In a chilling incident in Lucknow’s Indira Nagar, a 4-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by her school van driver, Mohammad Arif, on July 14, 2025, while alone in the vehicle en route to school. The child confided in her mother, describing pain and injuries in her private parts, which a medical examination confirmed as evidence of assault. The mother reported the crime to the school, but the management, led by Sandeep Kumar, took no action and allegedly pressured her to stay silent to protect the school’s reputation.
The mother faced further trauma when Arif threatened her daughter’s life and used slurs to intimidate the family to withdraw the complaint. Undeterred, she filed a complaint on July 17 at Indira Nagar police station, leading to Arif’s arrest and the seizure of the van. The police have charged Arif and Kumar under the POCSO Act, SC/ST Act, and other relevant laws, with investigations ongoing to uncover the school’s negligence.
Robust child safety measures and accountability in educational institutions are key to child safety and protection.
