Delhi: School gardener held for molesting 7-yr-old

A gardener with a private school in Central Delhi’s Anand Parbat area has been arrested for allegedly molesting a seven-year old girl in the premises. The alleged accused had been molesting the girl for more than a month.

A gardener with a private school in Central Delhi’s Anand Parbat area has been arrested for allegedly molesting a seven-year old girl in the premises. The alleged accused had been molesting the girl for more than a month.

Police said the accused used to molest the girl after school hours. “He would take her to the area near the washroom, after school hours and touch her inappropriately. He had threatened the girl that he would ‘harm’ her with the gardening scissors if she told anybody about it,” said a police officer.

The harassment of the girl came to light on December 19 when she refused to go to school on the pretext of being unwell. “Last week, she returned home from school and did not speak to anyone,” the officer said.

After three days, the girl refused to go to school and started behaving differently. It was then that her family sensed something fishy. Her mother then talked to her and she told her about the harassment.

“Seeing that her daughter’s was not acting her usual self, the mother asked her daughter to explain things to her properly. She revealed her ordeal and told her that the gardener misbehaved with her,” said a senior police officer.

Agitated at the incident, the parents first approached the school authorities, who immediately suspended the gardener. The parents then informed the police and a case was registered.

The accused, identified as Shankar, was soon arrested.

A case of molestation under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) was registered at the Anand Parbat police station.