7-yr-old murdered in Ggn: Parents blame school for lapse in security

GURUGRAM: The attempted sexual assault and consequent murder of a seven-year-old boy at a private school in Gurugram was followed by swift action by police, who held their nerve to find vital clues even as there was major public outrage due to the incident.

It was found that the CCTV camera in the school's washroom where the incident took place was not functioning properly. Parents of several students later marched to the Commissioner's office to demand action against the school management.

Panic and shock spread in the school on Friday morning around 8.00 am, when one of the sweepers found the boy lying in a pool of blood, with a deep cut on his throat and face.

The sweeper also found a knife at the spot.

After informing the school management, the boy Pradhuman was quickly rushed to a private hospital for treatment.

As soon as police were informed of the boy's body found in the school around 8.30 pm on Friday, teams of cops rushed to the school, and subsequently to the hospital.

However, he succumbed to his injuries on the way around 9.00 am.

The first breakthrough in the case came in the evening after cops detained a 42-year-old bus conductor in the case.

Initially detained, he was later arrested in the night.

Sources in Gurugram Police said that they are looking into the motive of sexual abuse and murder.

"Accused Ashok Kumar, who is a resident of village Ghamroj, has been arrested from Ryan International School for the murder of the boy.

"We are trying to ascertain his profile and find out whether he has been involved in other previous criminal activities," said Inspector Ravinder Kumar

In addition to the bus conductor, police have also called up the school coordinator for questioning.

Cops are also in the process of interrogating various staff members of the school, where the boy was studying.

They are also verifying footage from over 16 CCTV cameras set up within the school.

It was later revealed that the cause of the boy's death was severe loss of blood due to slitting of his neck with the sharp object.

The shock and grief of parents of the student turned into anger against the school management after lapses in security came to the fore.

The incident once again highlighted the steep rise in criminal activities in Gurugram.