Bengaluru school coach sent to custody for molesting child

A physical education instructor at a private school on the outskirts of Bengaluru was arrested and later sent to 14-day judicial custody for allegedly molesting a four-year-old girl child, police said on Wednesday.

Romeo, 25, was arrested on a complaint by the girl's parents on Tuesday that their child was molested in the school premises, Deputy Commissioner of Police Rohini Katoch Sepat told reporters here.

A case was registered under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

A local court remanded the man to 14 days' judicial custody.

According to the first information report, on returning home from school, the child complained to her mother of pain in her private parts.

"When the girl was taken to a hospital for check-up, doctors found she had been sexually assaulted. We took Romeo into custody after the girl named and identified him for molesting her in a secluded spot," Sepat said.

Preliminary investigation and evidence from CCTV footage showed the man taking the girl to a building in the school premises.

Though the school has 60 staff, including teachers in various subjects, Romeo was hired as a guest teacher six months ago without proper background verification.

When the school declared four holidays this week and announced that it would reopen on November 23, hundreds of parents staged a protest in front of the school and sought stringent action against the accused and its management.

"We will also interrogate the school management and parents to ascertain if the statutory procedures have been followed in ensuring safety and security of their wards," Sepat said.