Navi Mumbai creche maid arrested after thrashing toddler

Police arrested two persons on Thursday for thrashing a 10-month-old toddler in a private creche in Kharghar, according to an official.

Creche owner Priyanka Nikam and a maid identified as Afsana Shaikh, 30, have been arrested for assault on a 10-month-old female toddler.

"The maid, working as a caretaker for the toddlers in the Purva Playschool & Nursery in Sector 10 here (Kharghar), has been charged with assault, abusing children and other offences," said an official of Kharghar Police Station.

The incident involving the toddler, who was left behind at the day care creche by her parents, came to light after the child was sent home with a severe eye injury and bruise marks on her body.

The stunned parents demanded an explanation from Nikam, but were not satisfied with the replies.

They lodged a complaint with the Kharghar police, who scanned the CCTV recordings of the creche. The shocking footage later went viral on social media.

In the video, Shaikh is clearly visible, brutally beating, punching, slapping, poking, kicking and throwing around the crying little girl.

Apparently, Shaikh lost her temper as the toddler was crying, probably due to hunger, and not going to sleep.

Police said both Shaikh and Nikam have been arrested and sent to magisterial custody by a Navi Mumbai court on Thursday.

Nationalist Congress Party Women's Wing President Chitra Wagh expressed serious concern over the safety of babies in such private nurseries and creches.

Wagh told reporters she would visit the place of the incident and plan out a further course of action.

Local social activists and shaken citizens have demanded regularisation of such private creches with a strict code of conduct, as working parents drop their children there with immense trust.

--IANS

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