A disturbing case of alleged sexual assault involving a 4-year-old girl has surfaced in Lucknow’s Indiranagar locality. The child was reportedly digitally raped by her school van driver, identified as Mohd Arif, police said on Saturday. The incident is said to have occurred on July 14.
The term digital rape refers to non-consensual penetration using fingers or toes, with ‘digital’ referring to digits of the hand or foot, not to technology.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (East), Shashank Singh, confirmed the arrest of the accused.
An FIR has been registered against Arif, and the school manager, Sandeep Kumar, has also been named as an accused. The charges include sections under:
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS),
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and
- Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act
Police stated that the accused threatened the girl’s family with death if they chose to approach the authorities. A medical examination has been conducted, and the case is expected to be heard in the High Court.
Mother’s Heartbreaking Testimony
The child’s mother shared her account of discovering the crime.”The school had provided me with the van. My child complained of pain in her private parts. On examination, I found that she had suffered an injury,” she said.
She alleged that when she initially informed the school authorities, they attempted to dismiss the complaint. “The principal told me she would ‘look into it’ but then discouraged me from reporting it, saying it would affect the child’s future and the school’s reputation.”
The mother further claimed that the school later suggested a joint complaint against the driver in an attempt to minimise the incident.
In a further troubling development, the child’s mother reported that her family was subjected to caste-based abuse and threats of abduction when they confronted the driver and school management.
“I waited for two days but no action was taken by the school and the driver called again to pick the child for school. When we confronted him, he harassed us in front of the school and made casteist remarks. We were threatened with abduction, even the school also asked us not to complain. I have all the proof,” she told ANI.
#WATCH | Lucknow | On 4-year-old girl digital raped by school van driver, mother of the victim says, “The school had provided me with the van… My child complained of pain in her private parts… On examination, I found that she had suffered an injury. I complained to the… pic.twitter.com/C8Vl99R2A6
— ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2025
The family has now approached authorities, and police are investigating all aspects of the case, including the school’s alleged attempt to suppress the matter.
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