India, July 31 -- A 10-year-old girl in Delhi's Civil Lines allegedly disclosed that she had been sexually assaulted for several years by the driver and attendant of a private van used to take her to school after a government school workshop on good and bad touch. Police said a 47-year-old school van driver and his 34-year-old attendant have been arrested following a complaint by the girl's mother to the Parivartan Police Mobile Kiosk Team (PPMKT) in Civil Lines. According to the girl's statement, the two accused allegedly sexually assaulted her on several occasions while taking her to school. She told her class teacher about the alleged abuse during a child safety awareness programme, following which the teacher informed her parents. The family approached police the next day and lodged a complaint. Police said the accused allegedly took the girl to a demolition site near Khyber Pass, close to her school. The girl said the latest alleged incident occurred on July 21, while the abuse had continued over a longer period. She had not initially told her parents, allegedly because the accused threatened her and told her to remain silent.
An FIR has been registered against both accused under Sections 8 and 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, pertaining to sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault. Police said the child's statement is being recorded in accordance with POCSO procedures. Her medical examination has been conducted and she is undergoing counselling. Investigators said the allegations require further verification and that the probe is examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged abuse over the past three years. Further evidence is being collected as the investigation continues.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.