Sex assault on Nigerian boy in Greater Noida school

GREATER NOIDA: A Nigerian expat family has alleged their child, a student of Class 6 at a CBSE-affiliated school in Greater Noida, was being sexually assaulted by a school employee inside the premises for the last 4-5 years.

The shocking accusation comes amid concerns about safety of students in schools and a hard look at existing regulations after the September 8 murder of Pradhyumn Thakur, a Class 2 student, at Ryan International School in Gurgaon (Bhondsi).

According to police, the Nigerian family admitted the boy to the school in Class 2 in 2013. "His mother has alleged the child has been sodomised for the past 4-5 years. They had been noticing changes in his behaviour for a while, during which time his academic grades, which were earlier in the 90s, had also seen a steady decline," Surajpur SHO Girish Kotiya told TOI.

An FIR was lodged against Ashok Mishra, who works as a bookseller inside the school, under Section 377 (sexual activities against order of nature) of the IPC and the POCSO (Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences) Act. Late on Tuesday, Mishra was arrested from his residence inside the premises, police said. No other details were available.

According to police, Mishra repeatedly assaulted the child inside the school premises, in places like the washroom. "The family realised the disturbed child was being sodomised, after he was quizzed by his mother," said Kotiya, adding, "Mishra is a married man. He's also an employee of the school."

After the family filed their complaint, police got the child's medical examination conducted at the district hospital in Sector 30. Ajay Agrawal, chief medical superintendent of the hospital, told TOI they have sent the boy's blood samples to a pathologist, as there is no immediate trace of abuse.

A school representative told TOI she could not comment on the matter. District magistrate B N Singh, who is on tour, said he will initiate action when he returns on Wednesday. The name of the school is being withheld to protect the identity of the child.

After Pradhyumn's mother, two petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court for safety of children in school. One of the petitioners is Pradhyumn's father Barun, who has also launched a foundation in his son's name with an aim to make schools more secure for students.