India crèche worker arrested after allegations of putting toddlers in washing machine
Police in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru have arrested a daycare worker accused of abusing toddlers at a crèche located within the campus of global technology company Capgemini.
The arrest follows the circulation of disturbing videos on social media that allegedly show caregivers physically and emotionally mistreating young children. The footage appears to depict staff intimidating crying toddlers by locking them in toilets and washing machines, as well as spraying them with water from a bidet.
Authorities have since opened a case against five employees of the daycare centre, with police indicating that additional arrests could follow as investigations continue.
The incident has renewed concerns over the regulation of workplace childcare facilities in India, where many large companies have established on-site daycare centres to support working parents and improve employee retention. However, such facilities are governed by varying state and local regulations, with enforcement often considered inadequate.
In response to the allegations, Capgemini announced the temporary closure of its Bengaluru campus daycare centre.
In a statement, the company said the safety and wellbeing of its employees and their families remained its highest priority, adding that it was cooperating fully with investigators while assisting authorities in establishing the facts surrounding the case.
The alleged abuse came to light after an anonymous tipster alerted Bengaluru’s child protection unit and provided videos reportedly showing the incidents at the daycare facility on Capgemini’s Brookfield campus.
According to child protection official Thilakesh Kumar, preliminary investigations revealed that the alleged abuse took place inside a restroom that was not covered by CCTV cameras.
Following Kumar’s complaint, police registered a case against five daycare workers under provisions of India’s Penal Code and the Juvenile Justice Act.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh confirmed that the arrested suspect, identified as Vijayalakshmi, has been remanded into judicial custody.
Police also disclosed that two additional caregivers were questioned on Thursday as part of the ongoing investigation.
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge said the state government is monitoring the case and pledged that appropriate action would be taken against anyone found to have violated the law.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has also launched its own investigation and is expected to inspect the daycare facility as part of its inquiry.
Source: BBC
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