Mumbai: Several minor girl students were allegedly molested by the owner of a bus ferrying them to school over a period of two months, police said on Saturday.
“Bus owner Ramakant Kasurde was arrested on Saturday following a complaint filed by parents of the victims accusing him of molesting the girls in the bus while dropping them home from school,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Milind Marambe said.
The complaint was lodged by over 25 parents on April 17 after they informed the school about the alleged abuse.
According to the police, Kasurde, 50, operated three buses to pick up and drop school children from neighbourhoods around Dadar in South Central Mumbai.
Every evening after school hours, the accused would occupy a rear seat in the bus and molest the minor girls, all under eight years, police said, adding this went on for about two months.
None of the girls or boys spoke out as the accused had threatened them with dire consequences, they said.
“The boys were made to occupy the front seats and strictly told not to look back,” police said.
The incident came to light after one of the victims – a Class III student - told her parents about what Kasurde had done.
The parents then approached the school management and summoned Kasurde, who denied all the allegations.
“The accused initially denied the allegations but the girls opened up to the school principal when they were assured that no harm would be done to them,” police added.
“We are gathering evidence against the accused and recording statements of the girls, their parents and the bus driver,” said the police.
The parents of the victims are demanding that the school take legal action against the bus agency owned by the accused.
Comments
0 comment