Conductor was fired by another school
Three children key witnesses; acting principal suspended
GURGAON: A 42-year-old bus conductor accused of murdering an eight-year-old student of the Ryan International School was sacked by another school eight months ago for his “sexually predatory behaviour”, police probe revealed on Saturday.
Ashok Kumar was a driver with a school in Ghamroj, his native village, but was fired after some students complained about his “misdemeanours”. The school, about 5-km from Ryan International, did not file a complaint with the police.
Kumar was arrested after confessing to killing a Class II student who he tried to sexually abuse inside the toilet at Ryan International in Bhondsi, near Gurgaon, on Friday.
Three junior school students are now prime witnesses. Investigations revealed they three were in the toilet when Kumar walked in. The three students, who had gone to the toilet to change clothes for their taekwondo class, crossed the victim in the corridor on their way out.
Police said Kumar waited for them and a gardener, an initial suspect, to leave. The victim walked into the toilet after this.
On Saturday, the school suspended acting principal Neerja Batra and set up a panel to look into security lapses that led to the student’s murder, which sparked angry protests.
The three-member panel will submit its report on Monday. The school also canceled the contract of its security agency.
DCP (Crime) Sumit Kuhar said a background check revealed Kumar’s “sexually predatory” nature.
“The CCTV footage clearly shows his presence inside the toilet and eyewitness accounts match the sequence of events. We have strong circumstantial evidence to prove his guilt in the court”, said Kuhar.
The police have added charges under the Pocso Act, which deals with sexual assault on children, in the FIR against Kumar.
Meanwhile, amidst protests and allegations of inaction against the school management, the Gurgaon police vowed to file the charge sheet within a week. Gurgaon police commissioner Sandeep Khirwar said police will seek to fast track the trial.
“This is a very grave crime and the police is collecting the circumstantial evidence very minutely to make a foolproof case in the court. The help of a public prosecutor is being sought from investigation stage itself to ensure that there is no loophole,” said Khirwar.
The police are also likely to recommend cancellation of the licence of the security agency if lacunae are found on its part.