"Harassed and threatened with abduction upon confronting driver": Mother of four-year-old sexual assault victim

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], July 19 (ANI): In a shocking case of alleged sexual assault of a four-year-old girl by her school van driver in Lucknow, the victim's mother on Saturday stated that they had been harassed and threatened with abduction when they confronted the driver.
The mother further claimed that they had even been requested by the school to not to file a complaint in order to save the reputation of both the child and the school.
Speaking to ANI, the mother said "The school said that complaining would ruin the child's future and the school's reputation, after which they suggested of collectively complaining about the driver... 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."
Giving details on the assault, the mother stated that her child had complained of pain in her private parts, after which she was taken for examination.
"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 principal, who said she would talk about it. When I took the child to the doctor, the doctor said that whatever the child had said was done to her, and something was inserted in her private parts, she further stated.
The mother further stated that a First Information Report (FIR) had been filed by the police, further stating that the case would be heard in the High Court.
"Police have registered an FIR, and a medical test of my child was conducted" she added.
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested the school driver.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) East Shashank Singh stated that two teams had been formed to investigate the matter.
"On 17th July 2025, a complainant informed the Police Station that her 4-year-old daughter studies in a school and the driver of the van in which she goes to school, Mohd Arif, did this to her. Taking cognisance of this, an FIR was registered and two teams were formed to investigate the matter. Mohd Arif has been arrested. The complainant also says that she complained to the school manager too but nothing was done. These angles are being investigated and further action is being taken," DCP Singh told ANI. (ANI)