A four-and-a-half-year-old boy has been accused of sexually assaulting a classmate within the premises of a prominent private school in the national capital, Hindustan Times reported.
According to the report, the girl complained to her mother that the boy used his finger and a sharpened pencil to sexually assault her in the school’s washroom.
Sensitive Case
Although a case has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the matter is a complicated one. The police are unsure as to how to go ahead with the proceedings because of the age of both parties involved.
“We must understand that it is absolutely not possible for a four-year-old to understand sexual behaviour. Is there a possibility of a sexual need being fulfilled in his case? Absolutely not,” Dr Samir Parikh, the director of Fortis Healthcare’s department of mental health and behavioural sciences told Hindustan Times.
Experts have advised the police and the investigators to handle the case with extreme care due to the age of the children.
“The Indian Penal Code (IPC) provides children below seven years of age certain protections against prosecutions. We are examining those provisions even as we are handling the matter with utmost sensitivity,” Dependra Pathak, Chief Spokesperson, Delhi Police, told the daily.
“My Daughter Complained of Pain”: Girl’s Mother
According to the report, the girl's mother said the child constantly complained about pain in her lower abdomen after returning from school. Later that night, the girl told her mother that the boy allegedly unbuttoned her pants and assaulted her using his finger.
The child was taken to a hospital where a medical report was prepared after her treatment. A police case was registered.
“School Did Not Co-Operate Even After Complaints”: Girl’s Mother
Hindustan Times quoted the mother as saying that in the first information report (FIR), “She tried pushing him, but could not get away as other children had left and there was no staff around”.
The mother alleged she had complained to a school teacher through a text that very night and that she informed the school but they only asked her to file a written complaint on 20 November.
The mother complained that there was no teacher or any school staffer in the washroom at the time of the alleged assault. The school's lawyer has denied the allegations, and has claimed the school has a staff member (aayah) at every washroom in the premises.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) has summoned the principal and three staff members of the school.
"Considering the seriousness of the matter you are asked to appear before the commission on 27 November and bring along the two teachers concerned and the 'aayah'," the notice issued to the school read.
The child rights commission has also issued a notice to the police station's SHO seeking an action taken report within seven days.
(With inputs from PTI.)
(This is a developing story and will be updated.)
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