‘Sexual predator’ conductor was fired by another school
GURGAON MURDER Three children key witnesses; acting principal suspended
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.
CONTINUED ON P 6 RELATED REPORTS ››P2