Bookseller arrested for sodomising Nigerian student

A 35-year-old book-seller has been arrested for allegedly sodomizing an 11-year-old Nigerian boy inside the school premises for the last three-four years. He was arrested from Sigma Sector 2 late night on Tuesday. The accused has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days.

"We have sent him to judicial custody for 14 days. The child was sent for medical examination on Tuesday. We have initiated the proceedings. We will also talk to other students with the help of child counsellors," said a senior police official.

The accused has been identified as Ashok Mishra, who runs a bookshop inside the school in Pi Sector 2 of Greater Noida. Mishra had been sodomizing the Nigerian child by luring him to the washroom, his shop etc. The 11-year-old victim remained silent all these years as he was allegedly being threatened with dire consequences by the accused.

The incident has once again highlighted the loopholes in the safety of the children in schools. Last month, a 7-year-old was found dead inside the washroom with his throat slit at the Ryan International School in Bhondsi area of Gurugram.

"The administration was shocked to come across such incident. We respect the parents and the child is important to us. We will take all the necessary steps and help the police. We have also formed a 6-member committee to look into this matter. Security will also be increased," said Mukta Mishra, Principal of the school.

Following sexual assault allegations of a Nigerian student, police teams and the District Magistrate on Wednesday conducted investigations at the school in Greater Noida and collected CCTV footage of the premises.

According to a senior officer, the classroom of the victim student was also inspected and although the whole floor was under CCTV surveillance, including the entrance corridor of girl's washroom, it was found that CCTV's do not cover the corridor leading to boy's washroom. Three buses have also been seized by the magistrate finding them unfit.

"We were worried after the Ryan incident and now this. The administration has to take this seriously and assure us full safety. The parents will be left with no other choice than to stop sending their kids to school," said Yogender Kasana, president of Parent's Association.

On Tuesday, the child finally revealed the incident. According to the parents, the child has suffered rapid fall in his educational performance in recent times and there was a visible change in his behavior as well.

The Greater Noida Police has registered a case in this regard under IPC section 377 of IPC and Section 3/4 of the POCSO Act.

ARE SCHOOLS SAFE

• The 11-year-old victim remained silent for three or four years as he was allegedly being threatened with dire consequences by the accused

• Last month, a 7-year-old was found inside a washroom with his throat slit at Ryan International School in Gurugram

• This highlights loopholes in the safety of the children in schools