3-year-old sexually assaulted by bus attendant complained of pain in June too

A day after a bus attendant was arrested for sexually assaulting a three-year-old student of a south Mumbai school, the Gamdevi police found out on Thursday that the girl had complained of abdominal pain in June too. The girl's mother did not suspect anything amiss at the time. Hence, the police are investigating whether the girl was assaulted more than once, and the time frame of the crime.

A sexual assault was the last thing the girl's mother suspected when her daughter complained of pain in her private parts in June. However, when she complained of pain again on Tuesday, her parents took her to a hospital, where she was found to have swelling and injuries. That was when they decided to inform the police.

"In June this year, when the victim's mother was giving her a bath, she had complained of pain in her private parts. At that time, the mother could not gauge the problem. On Tuesday, after the victim returned home from school, she again complained of pain. Her mother also learned that the girl had swelling. Later the girl said that blue uncle, who she said was the school bus attendant assaulted her," said inspector Sandeep Bhagdikar.

On the basis of the complaint filed by the girl's parents, the police registered a rape case against attendant Prakash Joshi, 45, a Tardeo resident, and arrested him. Joshi has also been booked under relevant sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

The police have sent the girl and Joshi for medical examination. However, the police are yet to seize the school bus in which the girl was allegedly assaulted.

"We are in the process of taking statements of the bus driver and another female attendant. We will also be checking whether there were any lapses on the part of the Breach Candy-based school," said inspector Bhagdikar.