Maharashtra: School Staffers Sacked For 'Molesting' Children On Picnic In Thane

The services of three staffers from a private school in Thane were terminated following a molestation incident that occurred on a school bus during a picnic on February 20.

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Three staff members of a private school in Thane had their employment terminated on Thursday following allegations of child molestation on a school bus during a recent excursion, as reported by news agency PTI.

The incident occurred on February 20 when Class II students from the school were on a trip to a theme park in Ghatkopar, Mumbai. According to a Hindustan Times report, a 27-year-old bus attendant from a third-party tour company was arrested by Kapurbawadi police on Wednesday for allegedly molesting six girls and two boys based on a complaint lodged by concerned parents.

The reported incident took place on the return journey from Kidzania, an indoor theme park, where the bus attendant allegedly made the children sit on his lap and touched their private parts while distributing snack boxes. The children, who had been educated on recognizing appropriate and inappropriate touching, promptly informed their parents upon disembarking from the bus at 6 pm.

One parent shared with news agency ANI, "On February 20, when kids from grade 2 were on a picnic, two outsiders also accompanied them which wasn't informed to any parents. We don't know the due diligence or the process through which they're selected for the picnic. One man has molested 8-10 children..."

#WATCH | Thane, Maharashtra: On the school trip incident, a parent says, "On February 20, when kids from grade 2 were on a picnic, two outsiders also accompanied them which wasn't informed to any parents. We don't know the due diligence or the process through which they're… pic.twitter.com/tJ9vRXKs7p

— ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2024

According to reports, the upset parents immediately approached school authorities, demanding the resignation of the teachers involved and the school management. An FIR was filed against the teacher, management, principal, and the alleged perpetrator.

Despite assurances from the school authorities that appropriate action would be taken, parents found no resolution by 10 pm. Frustrated by the school's inaction, parents went to the police station in the early hours of Wednesday to lodge a formal complaint, the HT report said. 

Although the police have arrested the accused bus attendant, parents insisted that the names of the three teachers present on the bus be added to the FIR for negligence. They also claimed the school failed to inform them about the involvement of a third-party tour company, the HT report said. 

According to the Hindustan Times report, the school, in response to mounting pressure, issued a statement on Wednesday evening, condemning the incident and terminating the services of the three teachers who supervised the trip.

Sharmila Madiwale, the principal of the school, stated, "The police officers have taken action in the matter. We have been arranging trips from the Adventure Tours and Travels company for the last few years and we have never faced any such problem..." The school pledged not to engage the third-party company for future trips, expressing cooperation with the police investigation, the HT report said.