POLICE have arrested the 45-yearold driver of a school van for allegedly sexually assaulting two six-yearold girl students in Pune city, an official said on Thursday. The incident took place on September 30 on board the van when the kids were returning home after attending school in the Wanwadi area of the city. Police are trying to find out if a woman attendant was present in the van at the time, the official said. “The accusedallegedly touched the private parts of both girls. One of the girl students later narrated the incident to her mother who then informed the police and a case was registered,” the official from the Wanwadi police station said.

 

A police complaint was lodged on Wednesday and the accused, Sanjay Reddy, was booked and arrested under sections 64 (punishment for rape) and 65 (2) (punishment for rape on woman under twelve years of age) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone V ) S Raja said they acted after the mother of one of the minors approached the police. “The accused have been arrested and a probe is underway to ascertain whether any other girl students were similarly targeted in the past,” he said. Asked if a woman attendant was present in the van, the official said police are investigating it with the school.