Manipal : 4 yr old girl sexually abused by school bus crew : 2 arrested

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Sep 23, 2013 :  In a shocking incident, a four year old girl, a nursery student of Madhavakripa School at Manipal,  has been reportedly sexually abused  by three  men who were  the crew of the school  bus.

The police have already arrested Shubhakumar (24) of Hebri and Sudhir (16) of Adarshnagar in connection with the incident on September 22, Sunday.

It is learnt the incident had taken place on September 16 and both the accused were conductors of the school bus and were also working as part time autorickshaw drivers.

It has been gathered that the girl who was three years and 10 months old used to return home by the school bus every evening.   But on the evening of September 16, she missed the bus which she usually used to  board. Then, the accused  reportedly directed her to another bus   and then  sexually abused her.

There is no information as to yet if the child was taken  to some secluded location or if she was abused in the bus itself.

Meanwhile, her family which was worried on not seeing their daughter back home at the usual time,  visited the school and a search was launched.  It is learnt, the accused, after committing the heinous act dropped the little girl by an autorickshaw.

Sources said the girl narrated the happenings to her parents  two days later and subsequently a complaint was lodged on September 20.  The two accused who had by then  gone underground were arrested  on Sunday and produced before the magistrate late  in the night. They have been remanded to judicial custody. It is learnt, they will be produced before the court again on September 23, Monday.

Meanwhile, police are on the lookout for the third accused. The girl was also taken for medical examination.

The Udupi Rises for Justice Against Atrocities (URJAA) which has strongly condemned the incident has demanded an impartial probe and stern action against the accused.