School bus conductor convicted for molesting 5-year-old student

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 26

A local court today convicted a 23-year-old school bus conductor for molesting a five-year-old girl studying in Kindergarten at Stepping Stones School in Sector 38. The quantum of sentence is scheduled to be pronounced on September 28.

Jagjeet was arrested on May 13 last year in this connection and was booked under Sections 354 & 354 A of the IPC and various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

According to a complaint submitted to the Sector 39 police station, the victim’s mother had alleged her daughter returned home from school and was visibly frightened and refused to talk. 

On being asked, she started crying and disclosed that the “conductor of the school bus touches her private parts” on seeing her alone on the bus as she was the last one to be dropped. The girl also had red rashes on her chest.

It was said in the plaint, the conductor also threatened and told her not to tell anyone  about  what he did to her. There was no woman helper on the school bus.

The girl’s parents brought the matter to the notice of the school principal immediately. The parents had alleged that school Principal Sanjiv Kumar refused to take action and it was only when the parents of other students raised the issue that the matter was brought to the notice of the police and a case was registered.

Similar case

August 26: For molesting a minor student, a sweeper and a woman helper of St Stephen’s School, Sector 45, were sentenced to two years in jail each and fined Rs 6,000 each by a local court. Surprisingly, they were working with the school till the day they were convicted by the court.

Principal refused to take action on complaint of parents

The parents had alleged that school Principal Sanjiv Kumar refused to take action and it was only when the parents of other students created a hue and cry that the matter was brought to the notice of the police and a case was registered.