Navi Mumbai: A 30-year-old school bus driver has been arrested in Navi Mumbai for allegedly sexually assaulting a three-year-old girl inside a private school bus. The incident reportedly took place in Kamothe on Wednesday afternoon when the child was travelling home after school.
Police have registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The accused has been produced before a Panvel court, which remanded him to police custody till Saturday.
Child Was Reportedly Alone in the Bus
According to the police, the three-year-old girl regularly travelled to and from school in the private bus along with other children.
On Wednesday, the driver picked up kindergarten and primary school students in Kamothe at around 12.30 pm for their return journey. As the other children got down at their respective stops, the three-year-old was reportedly left alone inside the vehicle with the driver.
Police allege that the accused took advantage of the situation and sexually assaulted the child.
The exact circumstances of the alleged assault are being investigated by the police.
Girl Told Grandmother After Reaching Home
The alleged incident came to light after the child returned home.
Police said the girl complained of abdominal pain after reaching home. When her grandmother asked what had happened, the child allegedly told her that the “driver uncle” had troubled her inside the bus.
The family subsequently approached the school management and then lodged a police complaint against the driver.
Following the complaint, the child underwent a medical examination. Police said the examination confirmed sexual assault, following which the case was registered against the accused.
Driver Arrested, Investigation Underway
The accused, who is 30 years old, was arrested by the police following the complaint.
Police have invoked provisions of the BNS relating to rape of a girl below the age of 12, along with sections of the POCSO Act. The accused was produced before a Panvel court on Thursday, which granted police custody until Saturday.
Investigators are now examining the circumstances surrounding the incident and are also expected to record statements from members of the school management.
School Transport Safety Under Scrutiny
The case has once again raised concerns over the safety of young children travelling in private school buses.
The incident has particularly drawn attention to situations where a child may be left alone in a vehicle with a driver or other transport staff. Child-safety measures in school transport are intended to reduce such risks, including supervision and monitoring of vehicles.
Police are investigating whether the required safeguards were in place in the vehicle involved in this case and whether they were being properly followed.
Incident Reported in Kamothe
The incident occurred in the Kamothe area of Navi Mumbai, where the child reportedly attends school and lives with her family.
Local police have taken up the investigation and are gathering information from the child’s family, school representatives and others connected with the school transport service.
The accused remains in police custody as the investigation continues.
The case has also renewed the need for schools and parents to ensure that transport arrangements for young children have adequate supervision, monitoring and safety mechanisms in place.
