Ahmedabad school staffer arrested for sexually abusing 5-year-old student
Synopsis
A 54-year-old sanitation worker at a private Ahmedabad school allegedly abused a five-year-old student in a school washroom — and it only came to light because the child's parents noticed behavioural changes at home. The accused had a prior police record dating to 2021, raising urgent questions about staff background checks at private schools in Gujarat.
Key Takeaways
Pasha Bhangi , 54 , a sanitation worker at L.D.R.
International School in Ghuma, Ahmedabad , was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a five-year-old student.
The abuse allegedly occurred inside the school washroom ; the accused reportedly threatened the child to stay silent.
A case was registered on 25 June under Section 351(2) BNS and Sections 5(F), 5(L), 5(M), 6 and 10 of the POCSO Act .
The accused had been employed at the school for approximately one year and had a prior case registered against him in 2021 at Vastrapur Police Station.
Police confirmed the investigation is ongoing and said awareness programmes on child safety are regularly conducted in schools.
A 54-year-old sanitation worker at a private school in Ahmedabad's rural district has been arrested on allegations of sexually abusing a five-year-old student on school premises, police confirmed on Saturday, 27 June. The accused was identified as Pasha Bhangi, a resident of Manmohan Nagar near Sanathal Toll Tax in the Sarkhej area, originally from Dedar village in Siddhpur taluka of Patan district.
How the Abuse Came to Light
The incident surfaced after the child's parents noticed unusual behavioural changes — including signs of nervousness while returning home from school. After conducting counselling sessions at home, the child disclosed that sexual abuse and physical assault had taken place inside the school washroom.
A complaint was subsequently filed at Bopal Police Station, and a case was formally registered on 25 June under Section 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 5(F), 5(L), 5(M), 6 and 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
What Investigators Found
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Tapansinh Dodiya, speaking at a press briefing, said the alleged offence occurred when the child visited the school washroom. 'The sanitation worker, who was on duty, was responsible for cleaning the washroom. During this time, it has come to light that the accused committed inappropriate physical contact and sexual abuse,' he said.
Investigators also found that the accused allegedly threatened the child and instructed them not to disclose the incident to anyone. Police said interrogation revealed behavioural irregularities, and the investigation is ongoing.
Accused's Background and Prior Record
Pasha Bhangi had been employed at L.D.R. International School in the Ghuma area for approximately one year at the time of the alleged offence, and had previously worked in sanitation roles at other locations. Notably, a case had been registered against him in 2021 at Vastrapur Police Station for obstruction of public duty and rioting.
Police Response and Child Safety Measures
DySP Dodiya stated that police teams regularly visit schools to conduct awareness sessions on child safety, covering topics such as good touch and bad touch, how children should respond to inappropriate behaviour, and who they should immediately inform. He also appealed to parents to remain attentive to behavioural changes in their children and engage in open counselling.
The arrest has renewed scrutiny over background verification practices for non-teaching staff at private schools in Gujarat, with the investigation continuing to examine the full scope of the alleged offences.
Point of View
According to investigators, did not prevent his employment at a school handling young children. Gujarat's private school sector has no uniformly enforced mandate for criminal background checks on non-teaching staff, and this case exposes that gap with brutal clarity. The fact that disclosure came only through parental counselling — not any school-level safeguard — points to a systemic failure in institutional child protection protocols. POCSO's legal framework is robust; its implementation at the school-entry level is evidently not.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Ahmedabad school sexual abuse case?
Pasha Bhangi, a 54-year-old sanitation worker employed at L.D.R. International School in the Ghuma area of Ahmedabad, was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a five-year-old student on school premises. He had been working at the school for approximately one year.
What charges have been filed in the L.D.R. International School abuse case?
A case was registered on 25 June under Section 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 5(F), 5(L), 5(M), 6, and 10 of the POCSO Act. The charges relate to serious sexual abuse and inappropriate physical conduct against a minor.
How did the child's parents discover the abuse?
The parents noticed unusual behavioural changes in the child — including nervousness while returning home from school. After conducting counselling at home, the child disclosed that sexual abuse and physical assault had taken place in the school washroom.
Did the accused have a prior criminal record?
Yes. According to police, a case was registered against Pasha Bhangi in 2021 at Vastrapur Police Station for obstruction of public duty and rioting. Investigators said interrogation also revealed behavioural irregularities.
What steps are Ahmedabad police taking to prevent such incidents in schools?
DySP Tapansinh Dodiya stated that police teams regularly visit schools to conduct awareness sessions on good touch and bad touch, appropriate responses to misconduct, and reporting channels for children. Police have also appealed to parents to monitor behavioural changes in their children.
