3-year-old tied to chair, assaulted at Delhi playschool, attendant held: Police

A 35-year-old playschool attendant was arrested in northeast Delhi's Maujpur after allegedly tying a three-year-old boy to a chair and subjecting him to physical abuse. The incident came to light earlier this month and has prompted police to register a case against four school officials, including the director, principal, teacher, and the attendant.

On Friday, the boy's father filed a complaint with the police, naming the four staff members as accused. The 30-year-old teacher has been asked to join the investigation, while the roles of the director and principal are still being probed. The attendant was arrested under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The abuse was discovered after the child's parents noticed behavioral changes and physical injuries. The toddler had been scared of using the washroom, remained agitated, and cried uncontrollably at night. He also had bruises on his face and arms. An ENT specialist found severe swelling in both ear canals, suspecting physical assault.

When the father, an advocate, requested CCTV footage from the school, staff initially cited technical issues. The following day, school officials allegedly demanded ₹1,500 to provide the footage. After paying, the family viewed the recordings, which showed the child being pulled by his ears, tied to a chair for hours, kicked, and repeatedly struck.

The family approached the police on Friday, after which authorities raided the school premises, seized the CCTV DVR, and registered a First Information Report (FIR). Police stated that staff members attempted to shift blame onto the child, citing behavioral issues to justify the abuse.

The child was taken to GTB Hospital for a medical examination, where abrasions on his face and arms were documented. The playschool, located in northeast Delhi’s Maujpur, has faced scrutiny following the incident. The teacher has been summoned for further questioning, while the director and principal remain under investigation.

This case highlights concerns over child safety at playschools across Delhi. Authorities continue to probe the extent of the school’s involvement and the systemic failures that allowed such abuse to occur.

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