Three-year-old allegedly tied to chair, assaulted at Delhi playschool; premises sealed

NEW DELHI: A three-year-old boy was allegedly subjected to repeated physical abuse at a playschool in Delhi’s Maujpur, with CCTV footage reportedly showing him being tied to a chair, slapped, kicked and pulled by his ears. A 35-year-old attendant has been arrested, while the school’s director, principal and a teacher have been named as accused, police said.

The incident at Makoons Play School came to light after the boy’s parents noticed bruises on his face and arms and changes in his behaviour. The child reportedly became frightened of using the washroom and cried at night. After returning home from school on August 18, he reportedly began vomiting and felt dizzy. Subsequent medical examinations found swelling in his ears, according to the family.

The parents later sought medical attention and obtained CCTV footage from the school. According to the complaint and police, the recordings allegedly showed the child being assaulted over several days and tied to a chair for hours. The footage reportedly captured him being pushed, slapped, kicked and having his ears pulled.

The family has also alleged that the child was subjected to sexual abuse, including an incident in which a person was allegedly seen placing hands on his private parts. The allegation is under investigation. Police have registered a case under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Juvenile Justice Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The attendant has been arrested, while police are investigating the roles of the school’s director, principal and a teacher. The child has also undergone medical examination as part of the investigation.

In the latest development, the Delhi government has sealed the playschool following an inspection that reportedly found multiple safety and building-related violations. The inspection found that the school did not have required fire-safety and building documents, including a fire-safety certificate and sanctioned building plan, while emergency exits or staircases were not accessible. A fire extinguisher at the premises was also reportedly found to be non-functional.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has directed authorities to fix responsibility and take strict action against those found guilty. Police are continuing their investigation, while authorities are examining the school’s compliance with safety norms.