Bengaluru: Five women working as caregivers at a daycare centre inside an IT company campus in Bengaluru have been arrested after disturbing videos allegedly showing toddlers being subjected to physical and psychological abuse surfaced online, triggering outrage and a government probe.

The arrests have put the spotlight on safety standards at corporate daycare facilities, with Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge warning of "zero tolerance" and indicating that action would follow once the investigation is completed.

According to police, the accused women- identified as Manjula, Vijayalakshmi, Bhavani, Sindhu and Bindu were employed as nannies at the crèche located in East Bengaluru. Investigators said video footage purportedly captured multiple incidents of abuse involving young children under their care.

Officials alleged that the videos show toddlers being mishandled and subjected to cruel treatment, including being confined inside toilets, sprayed with water, intimidated into silence and exposed to other forms of physical and mental harassment. One of the clips reportedly showed a child being placed inside a washing machine, prompting widespread concern among parents.

Following the emergence of the footage, HAL Police registered a case under provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and Section 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The five women were subsequently taken into custody.

Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh said the investigation was progressing and assured that every person found responsible would face legal action. Authorities are examining CCTV recordings and other technical evidence to establish the sequence of events and determine whether additional people or lapses contributed to the alleged abuse.

As public anger mounted over the incident, Karnataka's Women and Child Development authorities sought an explanation from the company associated with the daycare facility.

Speaking to reporters, Priyank Kharge said organisations running daycare centres are expected to follow strict operating procedures, including employee verification and background screening before staff are entrusted with the care of children.

“As per that, they had to do verification, different types of background checks. We believe that has not happened. Let them give it in writing. But no company, whoever it is, should do this. They must handle these matters very responsibly, especially when it involves toddlers,” he said.

Kharge described the alleged abuse as deeply disturbing and said daycare operators, particularly those associated with large multinational organisations, are expected to maintain the highest standards of child safety and accountability.

He added that the government would examine the inquiry findings before deciding on further action. The incident, he said, not only raises serious concerns about child welfare but also affects public confidence in Bengaluru's reputation as a major global technology hub.

With ANI inputs