Nagpur: Parents may get more lines of worries on their foreheads post reading this. A van driver of reputed public school in East Nagpur has sexually harassed a girl studying in class 4th and even thrashed and threatened her to keep mum about the development.
The accused, Swapnil Ghumade, 23, has been arrested by Kalamna police. The girl is about 10 years old.
The incident has again brought to focus security of students, especially girls, travelling in school vans or buses. In the past, one of the school van drivers was involved in rape and murder of a young girl. School buses and vans have also been involved in accidents, including a couple of fatal ones, in the city.
It’s learnt, Neha was sexually abused on February 8 but she was so petrified that she did not reveal her ordeal even to her parents. Police said Neha had initially claimed that she was upset after being slapped by a schoolteacher. Her father then went to the school to inquire into the matter. Neha finally narrated her plight to a counsellor at the school and also revealed the name of her tormentor.
Police said Neha was supposed to return school in her regular van. Since she missed the van, Swapnil offered to drop her home. Swapnil left from the school gate after Neha stepped into his van along with other students. On the way, Swapnil allegedly made undue advances towards Neha. He also slapped her after she protested.
After the complaint was filed at Kalamna police station, cops took Swapnil into custody within 24 hours.
