Protests occurred at Badlapur railway station on Tuesday demanding justice in the case where two nursery students, four-year-old girls, were sexually abused by a sweeper at a reputable school in Thane district. Local trains were stopped, and agitators blocked the tracks.
CPRO Central Railway said, “Local trains stopped at Badlapur railway station where protesters agitated against the alleged sexual assault incident with two minor girls at a school in Badlapur.”
A call for Badlapur bandh has been given by several organisations to protest against the incident.
#WATCH | Maharashtra | Protest underway at Badlapur Station against the alleged sexual assault incident with a girl child at a school in Badlapur pic.twitter.com/eMazZDliiU
— ANI (@ANI) August 20, 2024
Two four-year-old nursery students were allegedly sexually abused by a newly hired sweeper at an English medium school in Thane district. The 24-year-old accused was arrested on Saturday, but the parents of the victims expressed their dissatisfaction with the police’s handling of the case. They claimed that the FIR was registered more than 12 hours after the complaint was lodged, and only after the intervention of the District Women and Child Welfare Department.
The school administration on Monday suspended the principal, class teacher, and female attendant, holding them responsible for the incident.
The school administration has also come under scrutiny for allowing a male sweeper, who was hired on August 1, to accompany the young girls to the washroom. The incident came to light when one of the girls confided in her grandfather about the sexual abuse by the school staff member when he would take her and her friend to the washroom. The family then discussed the matter with the other girl’s parents, who revealed that their daughter had recently become afraid to go to school.
The families took the four-year-olds for a medical check-up with a private doctor, who confirmed that the girls had been sexually abused. They then approached a local MNS leader who accompanied them to the police station on Friday at 12.30 pm. However, instead of promptly recording the parents’ statements and registering an FIR, the police station in-charge, Shubhada Shitole, allegedly made them wait for hours, stating that they needed to verify the claim first. Sources claimed that a police team visited the school but were informed that the CCTV cameras had not been functioning for the past few days.
It was only after the District Women and Child Welfare Department intervened, police registered a case under the Pocso Act past midnight. On Saturday morning, police also got the girls’ medical examination conducted at a govt hospital as a private medical test is not valid in court.
The police station incharge, Subhada Shitole, has been transferred to the special branch by Thane police for delaying the registration of the FIR when the parents of the child approached the police station.
The Maharashtra government on Tuesday ordered the setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged sexual abuse of two girl students of a school in Badlapur. The SIT will be headed by Inspector General of Police-rank officer Aarti Singh, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who heads the home department, stated on X.
Fadnavis stated he has directed the Thane Police Commissioner to prepare a proposal to try the case in a fast-track court.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde has directed the police to invoke the attempt to rape charge against the arrested accused. The case will be fast-tracked and a special public prosecutor will be appointed, Shinde said on Tuesday.
The Chief Minister warned of legal action if the management of the school is found negligent or complicit, the chief minister’s office (CMO) stated.
Shinde appealed to demonstrating parents to exercise restraint as the rail blockade was hampering the functioning of local trains.
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Source: TOI
