The three men were not named in the reports of the arrest, but were identified as a 42-year-old driver, a 43-year-old attendant, and a 39-year-old supervisor.

“The suspects confessed to the crime and were referred to the Dubai Public Prosecution,” said, Brigadier Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, director of the Dubai Police Criminal Investigation Department.

According to a report on Sunday in the Arabic daily Al-Khaleej, the parents of the child, who live in Bur Dubai, filed their complaint on Jan. 11. The alleged rape occurred on Nov. 11. Public Prosecution has launched a further investigation to find out whether the men have criminal antecedents.

The parent said the child, who was the last to be dropped off, described being molested by the three men in the back seat after being given chocolate.

Parents of school-going children shared their utter shock with Arab News. Zareena, a doctor and mother of two school-going children, said that culprits should get at least capital punishment in front of the public if proven guilty.

She suggested that the schools should have a reliable transport system with female attendants and cameras.

“How can this trio-act like an organized criminal gang?” asks Rajendran, a chartered accountant and father of one girl. “Schools should recruit well-disciplined drivers and conductors who have had a good track record. Besides, a female conductor is a better and safer option.”

Haseena Mohammed, a housewife in Sharjah and mother of two school-going kids suggested that school buses should not be tinted and CCTV should be fixed in buses and after each trip the camera records should be checked.

“Immediate action must be taken to eliminate such criminals from the society. The government must do something to enhance the safety of children in the country,” said R. Suresh a housewife from Al-Ain.

“When such incidents happen, the authority should release the name of the school also, otherwise, the residents will start doubting all schools and rumors will spread,” says Sunil. M., a safety engineer whose kids study at an Indian school in Dubai.

Leena C, mother of two school-going children said that due to outsourcing of transport services by schools a no-responsibility zone is created by the school and bus employees.

Basheer Edavanna, a long-time resident of Dubai says that government should close down such irresponsible schools and give a death sentence to those who are guilty, otherwise such crimes will grow.