Alleged Sexual Assault of Three-Year-Old Sparks Concern in Noida

NOIDA: A three-year-old student was allegedly sexually assaulted on two separate occasions by a member of the housekeeping staff at a well-known school’s junior wing. The child’s mother reported these distressing incidents to the Times of India (TOI) on Wednesday, highlighting security failures and the school management’s questionable response.

According to the child’s mother, the first occurrence happened earlier in the month when the school worker allegedly took the child to the medical room, locked the door, and assaulted her. He reportedly fled through a window when another staff member heard the child’s cries and came searching. The child was later returned to her class by a teacher, who suggested that the child might have been influenced by inappropriate online videos.

Subsequently, when the child refused to attend school and complained of pain in her private parts, her parents sought medical advice. A pediatrician’s examination confirmed signs of sexual assault. Under counseling, the girl disclosed that ‘Khana Bhaiya’, a man who served food at school, assaulted her with a stick. She also mentioned that this was not the first time, citing a previous incident on the school playground.

The family registered a complaint with the Sector 20 police station on October 9, leading to an FIR. The child identified the suspect from photographs provided by the police, resulting in the arrest of the 30-year-old housekeeping staff member from Nithari village. Charges were filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.

Dipti Yadav, a member of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), stated that the committee served a notice to the school and summoned the headmistress. The school’s headmistress claimed that they learned of the alleged assault only after the police visit on October 9.

School authorities and police have initiated a campaign to educate students about sexual crimes and personal safety. The principal issued a letter to parents emphasizing the priority of student safety and cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation. Suniti, Deputy Commissioner of Police (women safety), visited various schools to educate children on “good touch and bad touch,” and distributed informational pamphlets on the issue.