Conductor accused of harassing minor, held

BAREILLY: A conductor of a school bus was arrested allegedly for inappropriately touching a nineyear-old girl on Monday, police said.

When the girl’s father came to know about the incident, he reached the school in Bithri area and manhandled the conductor.

The school staff informed the police after which the conductor was arrested.

On the complaint of the girl’s father, the police lodged an FIR against bus conductor Ajay Mishra, 19, and charged him under Sections 354, 342 and 506 of the IPC and relevant sections of the POCSO (Prevention of Children from Sexual offences) Act.

Ajay had joined the school a year ago. The school staff claimed Ajay pulled the cheeks of the girl and asked her to sit down as she was playing inside the bus.

“Besides students, five female teachers of our school also travel in the bus and were present in the bus at that time. It is impossible for anybody to harass the students in the presence of teachers,” said school principal Ramesh Dhasmana.

The accused was sent to judicial custody and the police have initiated investigation. “A team of Bithri police is investigating the matter. I have also asked the circle officer to oversee the investigation,” said senior superintendent of police Joginder Kumar.

Caption: The school is situated in Bithri area of Bareilly.