The accused is believed to have attacked the child over a personal grudge against the girl’s mother, who works at the same school as an attendant.
Published Dec 01, 2025 | 1:57 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 01, 2025 | 1:57 PM
A screengrab from the video of the assault.
Synopsis: A four-year-old nursery student was allegedly assaulted by a 55-year-old ayah in Jeedimetla, a suburb of Hyderabad, triggering widespread outrage. The accused is believed to have attacked the child over a personal grudge against the girl’s mother, who works at the same school as an attendant. Jeedimetla Inspector G Mallesh said the police acted on a complaint filed by the victim’s mother.
A four-year-old nursery student was allegedly assaulted by a 55-year-old ayah in Jeedimetla, a suburb of Hyderabad, on the evening of Saturday, 29 November, triggering widespread outrage.
The accused, Lakshmi, employed at Poornima School in Shapur Nagar, is believed to have attacked the child over a personal grudge against the girl’s mother, Santhoshi, who works at the same school as an attendant.
Jeedimetla Inspector G Mallesh said the police acted on a complaint filed by the victim’s mother.
In her statement, the child’s mother alleged that Lakshmi took the child to the toilet and violently assaulted her, including striking the child and repeatedly banging her head on the floor.
The incident came to light after residents captured the assault on video. The footage shows the young girl being slapped, stamped on, and her head pushed against the ground several times. Lakshmi reportedly stopped only when she realised she was being recorded. The video was later shown to the girl’s mother, prompting her to approach the police.
A case has been registered under Sections 75, 85, and 87 of the Juvenile Justice Act and Section 118(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Both Lakshmi and the school management have been booked for their alleged roles and negligence in failing to ensure the child’s safety.
The child is receiving medical care as the investigation continues.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Sumit Jha.)
