A large number of people, including parents, today staged a peaceful demonstration near HAL police station here against incidents of sexual assault on children and demanded quick action by authorities in such cases.
Few police personnel also joined them as a mark of solidarity.
The demonstration was held in the wake of the alleged sexual assault on a three-year-old girl by a non-teaching staff member of a preschool here on February 17.
Several people, mostly parents and children, dressed in black turned out at a ground here with placards as a mark of protest.
"We wanted to make our voice be heard, that's the reason we are demonstrating. Authorities have said they are with us. We hope that some action is taken soon," said a parent.
Additional Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru East, Hemant Nimbalkar said police joined hands for cause of the child safety along with the parents and civil society.
"Assured strict action against accused," he tweeted.
The man, who worked as a supervisor at the school, was arrested on February 18 and a case was registered under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) against him following a complaint from the parents of the girl.
Additional cases were filed against him on February 23 by the police as more parents came forward to report similar incidents of sexual assault by him on their children.
Police have also also booked the school management under the POCSO for failure to report the offence.
Parents alleged that the principal and the management members did not initiate action against the accused and tried to defend him initially.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in a series of tweets yesterday said the guilty will not be spared.
"Have asked Police Commissioner to diligently investigate the play school child abuse cases. The guilty will not be spared," he said.
"Education & Women & Child Dev Depts must ensure strict implementation of Child Protection Policy in schools. Time for a public info campaign (sic)," he said in another tweet.
Earlier, parents had also met city Police Chief Praveen Sood and requested for speedy investigation and stringent punishment for the accused.
(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
