Teacher arrested for sexually assaulting 9-year-old autistic boy

NAVI MUMBAI: The police have arrested a 24-year-old teacher for allegedly sexually assaulting a nine-year-old autistic boy at a centre for special children in Kharghar.

Though the incident happened on August 29, Akshay Patil, a resident of Kharghar, was arrested only on Friday as the boy was initially unable to identify the person who sexually assaulted him. The cops took four days to pin down the accused after seeking help of some teachers. The boy pointed towards the photo of a man and a small boy after which the cops interrogated all the teachers and zeroed-in on Patil, the only male teacher at the centre for special children.

Senior Inspector Dilip Kale said, "There are four women teachers and one male teacher at the centre where around 20 children come for training. On August 29, there were only three children at the centre. As the women teachers were on leave, the training was conducted by Patil. He took advantage of the situation and allegedly sexually assaulted the boy. As the boy continuously cried after reaching home, his mother enquired with him. Then, he narrated his ordeal to his mother."

Kale added, "Initially the boy's mother was unable to identify where her son was sexually assaulted as he went to the centre and also to a regular school. With the help of some teachers, the boy was made to look at some photos when he pointed towards a sketch of a man with a small boy. Hence, the cops showed him the photographs of the teachers at the centre. The boy immediately identified the man. The accused was detained on Friday. He has confessed to sexually abusing the boy. The teacher has been booked under Section 377 (unnatural sex) of IPC along with the sections of POCSO Act."