Two and-a-half year-old sexually abused by driver

NEW DELHI: A two-and-a-half-year-old girl has become the latest victim of sexual abuse in the capital. The incident came to light when the girl, who goes to a prep school in west Delhi, had complained of pain and refused to go to school. After much coaxing, she told her parents the driver of her school van had sexually assaulted her. 

The 23-year-old driver has been arrested and cases have been registered under sections of POCSO and IPC Section 376 (rape). 

Police sources say the accused had been appointed just two months ago by the victim's parents. "The girl had complained of pain a couple of days ago and had refused to go to school. It was after much coaxing that the she communicated her trauma. Following this, a medical test was conducted and she was found to have internal injuries,'' said a police officer. 

A counsellor, police said, has been appointed to help the victim cope up with the trauma. "The district counsellors have been informed to be present whenever the victim needs them at the hospital," said an officer. 

This is not the first time this year that a student has been targeted by their transporters. School bus driver Mohammad Shamim and cleaner Asgar Ali were arrested for molesting children, who travelled on the bus, and making them watch pornographic clips on their cellphones. 

In another incident, a 57-year old private tutor was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing some children at his house in Rajinder Nagar. 

Some months ago, the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights had issued guidelines for school van drivers and the Delhi government was expected to act on it soon. 

"The driver's phone number must be with the parents; the school I-card should mention the mode of transport that the child is taking; the schools must inform the parents on the exact bus their wards will take and the parents need to get verified drivers even for private vehicles,'' said a counsellor.