8 school children sexually assaulted; 3 held

At least eight children were allegedly sexually assaulted in their school bus by its driver and cleaner in presence of a woman assistant in Wani here.
Police yesterday arrested the driver, identified as Surendra Sav, cleaner Kiran Brahmane and the assistant on the basis of a joint complaint filed by eight parents.
The trio was today produced before a court here, which remanded them in police custody till tomorrow.
"We received a joint complaint from eight parents of the victims of Wani-based 'Dream Play School', alleging that their minor kids have been sexually assaulted by the driver and the cleaner for the last one month and they were assisted by the lady escort of the bus," said police sub-inspector Rakhi Gedam.

"Surendra and Kiran have been booked under sections 376/2 i (rape), 354 a (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354 b (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 506 (criminal intimidation) and under various provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, while the assistant under section 109 (punishment of abetment) of IPC," she added.
As per preliminary investigation, Surendra and Karan allegedly sexually assaulted the children in the school bus itself while the woman assistant remained a mute spectator, police said.
Meanwhile, Wani police has written to the Assistant Charity Commissioner, Yavatmal, and the Assistant Registrar of Co-Operative Societies requesting them to disclose the names of the trustees of the school so that necessary legal action could be initiated against them too.

Various political parties and social organisations in Wani had called a bandh today in protest of the incident.