6 more complaints registered against playschool supervisor

Parents of six other children have registered complaints at the Marathalli police station against Manjunath, the supervisor at a playschool in Bellandur, alleging sex abuse.

The total number of complaints registered against Manjunath has touched seven.
A source said Manjunath also sexually assaulted male children at the playschool. Among the complainants are parents of a two-year-old boy. ‘Manju Bhaiyya’ or ‘Manju Uncle’ for a few was a traumatising name for children in this school. He has been working there for the last eight years.

Children have revealed to their parents he would take them to a separate room and sexually abuse them there. According to a parent of a child who was assaulted, the principal was aware about Manjunath’s behaviour and chose to ignore it.

“My daughter told me the teachers would threaten children saying they would be sent to Manjunath if they misbehaved. What is it that he would do to threaten these children and how could the management give him liberty?” the parent asked.

Other parents realised their children, too, were victims when they counselled them at home. “After one incident came to light, parents asked their children about “bad touch”, if any. They confessed that he had touched them inappropriately.”

The accused also clicked nude pictures of children. “There was a daycare centre on the same premises. When girls change their uniforms, he would be right there.

Children said he took their nude photographs on his phone. The principal was aware of his presence and would also ask him to assist girls in changing their clothes,” a source said.

The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has asked police to book Dr Veena Ashok, principal of the playschool chain. It has asked the Marathalli police to book the principal under Section 16 of the Pocso Act (direct or indirect support to any such activity). When police came to arrest him, Dr Veena called the parents and pleaded with the father to ensure he was not arrested. This, a source said, was in support of the accused.

Police have asked the Education Department to cancel the licence and affiliation of the preschool.