A disturbing case of alleged child abuse has emerged from a playschool in Delhi’s Maujpur area, where a three year old boy was allegedly beaten and restrained over several days. The case came to light after the child’s parents noticed significant changes in his behaviour and sought medical help. According to the family and police, the child began showing signs of distress, including crying frequently, becoming frightened about going to school and appearing uncomfortable with physical contact. His parents eventually approached doctors after noticing injuries and other worrying symptoms. The family later sought access to CCTV recordings from the classroom.

The footage allegedly showed the child being tied to a chair for hours and subjected to physical violence by members of the school staff. Police have seized the CCTV recorder and are examining the recordings as part of the investigation. The father told NDTV that his son now wakes up crying and is afraid that his parents might send him back to school. He said the child has become so traumatised that even simple activities such as reciting numbers or the alphabet can trigger fear of being punished. The case has taken a more serious turn after allegations of inappropriate touching were also raised by the family. Police have registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act along with provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Juvenile Justice Act. The allegations are being investigated. Police have arrested a caretaker in connection with the case, while the school’s director, principal and teachers have also been named as accused.

Authorities are examining the role of each individual and analysing the CCTV evidence. The Delhi Directorate of Education has also ordered an inquiry into the incident. Officials said the investigation will be conducted in accordance with child protection and POCSO guidelines. For the child’s family, the immediate priority is helping him recover from the psychological impact of the alleged abuse. The father said the family is struggling to see their child in constant fear and is seeking support to help him regain a sense of safety. The case has once again raised serious questions about the safety and supervision standards at private day care and playschool facilities, where young children are placed in the care of adults away from their families. The police investigation and departmental inquiry will now determine what exactly happened and who should be held responsible.