3-year-old allegedly tied to chair, assaulted at playschool; attendant held

A 35-year-old attendant at a playschool in northeast Delhi’s Maujpur has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a three-year-old boy after tying him to a chair, police said on Sunday. A case has been registered against four people associated with the school, including its director, principal, a teacher and the attendant, while investigators are examining CCTV footage and medical evidence to establish the full sequence of events.

The case was registered on Friday following a complaint from the child’s father. Police have invoked relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Juvenile Justice Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The 30-year-old teacher has been asked to join the investigation, while the roles of the director and principal are also under scrutiny.

Family noticed change in child’s behaviour

According to the family, suspicions arose after they noticed significant changes in the child’s behaviour. They alleged that he began having difficulty sleeping and developed a fear of going to the toilet. The family subsequently raised concerns about his treatment at the playschool and approached police.

The child underwent medical examination at GTB Hospital, while police also conducted a joint examination as part of the investigation. The family has alleged that the boy was physically assaulted and subjected to inappropriate conduct at the school. Police are verifying these allegations through medical findings and other evidence.

CCTV footage under examination

Investigators have seized CCTV footage from the playschool, which is being examined to determine what happened inside the premises. According to police, the footage is among the key pieces of evidence being considered alongside the child’s medical reports and statements recorded during the investigation.

The family has alleged that the child was tied to a chair and physically assaulted. Police have maintained that all allegations are being investigated and further action will depend on the evidence gathered in the case.

The incident has also brought the conduct of the school management under scrutiny, with investigators examining whether other officials were aware of the alleged treatment of the child or failed to intervene.

The investigation remains underway, with police expected to determine the individual responsibility of those named in the case after examining the CCTV footage, medical findings and other available evidence.