In yet another shocking incident, two LKG boys were allegedly molested by their 48-year-old school van attender on the school bus in Chennai over the last few days. The city police arrested the man identified as Baskar.
As the news spread on WhatsApp, around 300 parents staged a protest in front of the international school, at which the boys were studying, in the city demanding action against the man.
The incident came to light after a four-year-old boy refused to go to school on Wednesday. "When the parents tried to find out why, they were shocked to learn that their son was allegedly molested in the school van," said the investigation officer.
On Wednesday night, the victim's parent posted a message on a Whatsapp group, of which parents of other students are a part. "Fearing their children also might be victims, the parents enquired with their wards and found that another four-year-old boy was also allegedly molested by the same man," the officer said.
"The parents had noted behavioural changes in both the boys over the last few days. They kept asking the children about it but both remained silent and were unusual at home," added the officer.
"On Wednesday evening, the incident came to light when the first boy informed his parents that one Baskar, who works as a van attender at the school, molested him while they were travelling in the school bus and in the bathroom of the school, due to which he hesitated to go to school," said a senior police officer.
Police said preliminary investigations revealed that after the women attenders left, Baskar would take the children to the rest room where he would allegedly molest and force himself on them.
Baskar had been working at school for over 12 years and would take attendance of the children travelling on the school bus in the afternoon. Normally, some 25 children travel by the bus on which he works. He resided near the school along with his wife and three children. Further inquiries are being conducted to find out if there are other victims.
"On Friday, the two boys will be questioned along with the child welfare committee members and further action will be taken," the senior police officer said.
