Bengaluru: A three-year-old girl was sexually assaulted allegedly by the watchman at her school, with the incident triggering protests by parents of students who clashed with the police.

The man was arrested following a complaint filed by the parents of the victim, who identified him, deputy commissioner of police (East) N. Satish Kumar said. “The victim’s mother had seen the watchman making her daughter sit on his lap, hugging her and offering chocolates,” he said. “We have arrested the watchman of the school for allegedly sexually assaulting a three-year-old,” Mr Kumar said.

He said the girl’s parents came to know about the incident when she complained of pain in her private parts after returning from school on Monday afternoon. She was taken for medical examination at government-run Bowring Hospital on Monday evening and a case was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), Mr Kumar said.

Asked about the alleged lathicharge against protesting parents, Mr Kumar said in fact some protesters beat up police. “We did not resort to lathicharge against the protesters. On the contrary, one of our Sub Inspectors and another policeman were beaten up,” he said.

The incident is a grim reminder of a series of sexual assaults on minor girls in upscale schools in the city last year, raising questions about safety of girls in schools.

It may be noted ex-commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar was transferred last year after a six-year-old student of Vibgyor High School was raped by roller skating instructor Mustafa.