Daycare owner in Abbotsford, B.C., charged with assaulting children in her care

An Abbotsford police cruiser is seen in this undated file image.

The owner of a daycare in Abbotsford, B.C., has been charged with multiple counts of abuse after allegedly assaulting children over a two-year period.

Indu Takhar, 60, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with six counts of assault, following an investigation into reports that began in October of last year, said the Abbotsford Police Department in a statement Thursday.

The alleged incidents involved children aged between two and six years old, and date back to 2022, said police.

Takhar has operated Smile ‘N’ Play Daycare Inc., on McKinley Drive in East Abbotsford, since 2019. The facility, which has a second residence on Cardinal Avenue, runs programs for infants up to children of 12 years old.

The daycare’s website describes Takhar as a “compassionate soul” with a “heart full of passion for nurturing young minds.”

Takhar has been released from custody under several court-ordered conditions, including being prohibited from visiting any daycare centres and having no contact with anyone under the age of 16.

Anyone who has any information relating to this investigation is asked to contact the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225.