Bhopal: 3-year-old girl sexually abused in school van; conductor held
What's the story
A three-year-old girl was allegedly sexually abused in a school van by its conductor, who was detained, police said today. The incident took place yesterday when the girl, a pre-nursery student, was returning home in the Ayodhya Nagar area in Bhopal in the van from her school, they said. The van conductor was detained yesterday night, Police Inspector Baljeet Singh said. Here's more.
Details
Minor told mother about incident, named conductor as accused
"The accused is claiming he is 17 years of age. We are verifying his age," the Inspector said. Singh said the victim returned home around 2 pm and told her mother about the incident when she took her for bathing. When her mother inquired more about the incident, the minor girl named the bus conductor, the police officer said.
Charges
Accused booked under IPC, POCSO Act
The 14-seater school van, in which the incident took place, has been hired by the school where the girl goes, Singh said. Her parents later lodged a police complaint, he said. The accused was booked for rape under the amended IPC Section 376 AB, which deals with punishment for rape of girls under the age of 12, and provisions of the POCSO Act.
Information
Death penalty for those found guilty of raping minor
Last year, the Madhya Pradesh Assembly unanimously passed a bill to introduce the death penalty for those found guilty of raping minors aged 12 years or less.