Pune: The Wanowrie police have arrested a private van driver on the charge of sexually assaulting two six-year-old Std I school students on Sept 30. Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis , who also holds the home portfolio, told reporters in Nagpur on Thursday that strictest action would be taken against the perpetrator of the alleged crime. A mob on Thursday vandalised the van that was parked at the Wanowrie police station.
Police had impounded the vehicle as part of their ongoing investigation. Police detained four men for damaging the van. Senior inspector (Wanowrie police station) Sanjay Patange said the alleged incident came to light when one of the girls, on returning home from school, complained of back pain, and her mother checked the matter.
"Sensing something serious, she asked her daughter what had happened, and the latter narrated the van driver's assault not only on her but also on another girl in the same van sometime between 8am and 3.45pm on Sept 30. The girl's mother then avoided sending her to school in the van," he said.
The girl's mother got in touch with the parents of the other Std I student, and they too confirmed that their daughter had gone through the same experience, Patange said. The parents then decided to approach the police, and the girl's mother lodged a complaint. "We arrested the van driver (45) on Wednesday.
He works for a Phursungi-based private van service provider whose services were hired by parents to transport their children to and f.