NEW DELHI: After two nursery students, four-year-old girls, were sexually abused by the sweeper of a reputed school in Thane district, protests erupted at Badlapur railway station on Tuesday where local trains were stopped and agitators blocked the tracks.
Read more: Maharashtra Kids Sex Abuse Live Updates:
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.”
More than four hours have passed since the protesters descended on tracks but police and authorities are unable to convince protesters who refused to heed pleas for the withdrawal of the blockade.
A call for Badlapur bandh has been given by several organisations to protest against the incident.
Residents in Badlapur protested against the sexual abuse of two minor girls which occurred last week. Local train movement has been affected as protests are underway at Badlapur Station. Police have arrested a person in the case. The parents came to know about the incident on August 18 and filed an FIR.
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.
Locals said that along with citizens, rickshaw union, traders’ union, jewellers association, and now some political parties have also come forward to join the bandh. The accused, who was hired by the school on August 1, will remain in police remand until August 21.
Rajya Sabha MP from UBT Sena, Priyanka Chaturvedi expressed her deep concern and condemned the incident.
“Two young girls were sexually assaulted in Badlapur, Maharashtra in the school premises; the entire state is outraged and seeks justice. I once again urge the President to approve the Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law, so that no other child or woman faces this travesty. Shame on the state government to continue to ignore the safety of women,” she posted on X.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded a fast-track trial and speedy justice in the case of sexual abuse of two girls at a school in Thane district. Talking to reporters, Thackeray said on one hand, the Mahayuti government is running the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin scheme for women, but daughters of sisters are not safe.
In an apparent reference to the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata, where the Mamata Banerjee-led government has come under fire, the Sena (UBT) chief said politics was being done over crime against women by targeting certain states.
The former chief minister claimed the school where the girls were allegedly sexually abused was linked to BJP leaders. “The case should be fast-tracked, and the victims should be ensured speedy justice,” he said.
Leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) parties like Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT), besides Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, attacked the government on the incident in the home district of chief minister Eknath Shinde.
Nationalist Congress Party (SP) working president Supriya Sule said the incident is “very shocking and serious” and the state home department must take note of the citizens’ anger.
“Citizens are demanding strict action against the murderer who committed this heinous act. The anger of the citizens is very right and the home department needs to take note of their anger,” urged Sule.
She called upon the Thane Police to thoroughly investigate the (accused) person and take strict action against him.
“Apart from this, a case should also be registered against the management of the institution who tried to suppress this matter,” demanded Sule.
Congress leader of the opposition in the assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar called up Thane Police Commissioner Ashutosh Dumbare and demanded the suspension of the woman police official who reportedly made the victim’s parents sit in the police station for nearly 12 hours before taking their complaint last week.
“This case must be taken up by a fast track court to hear it in three months and the accused must be given the death sentence,” said Wadettiwar.
Congress MP and Mumbai president Varsha Gaikwad said, “The incident of inhumane and cruel treatment of the girls is mind-numbing”, and the issue of women’s safety has become very serious during the Shinde government, while its silence was unbearable.
“The number of crimes against women is also increasing, but the state Home Minister and the government are not at all concerned. It is not enough to simply say ‘Ladaki Baheen’ and sit with rakhi in hand. If the government wants to preserve the true relationship with the sisters, it also has to fulfil the responsibility of keeping them safe as a true brother,” pointed out Gaikwad.
SS (UBT)’s Deputy Leader Sushma Andhare questioned why schools without CCTVs and ‘sevikas’ (women assistants) were given permission and said “Ladki Bahin can wait, we need ‘Surakshit Bahin’ (secure sister) first”.
Claiming that there is a complete collapse of law and order in the state, SS (UBT)’s spokesperson Kishore Tiwari demanded the immediate sacking of deputy CM Fadnavis and forming an SIT to probe the shocking case.
“The law and order does not exist due to corruption and cash deals to get desired police postings… The CM is like a rubber stamp as there’s a complete collapse of law and order due to hostile corruption and cash and getting the desired posting. The BJP is responsible for the present messy situation,” said Tiwari.
Demanding the resignation of both the CM and deputy CM, VBA Chief Spokesperson Siddharth Mokle said the incident is a blot on humanity but the government is only obsessed about winning the next elections at all costs.
Maharashtra govt forms SIT to probe sexual abuse of two school girls amid protests
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.
Maharashtra government ordered the suspension of three police officials, including a senior inspector, for alleged dereliction of duty in the investigation of the sexual abuse of two girls at a school in Badlapur, amid widespread protests.
“The orders of immediate suspension of the senior police inspector, assistant sub-inspector and head constable attached to Badlapur police station for the dereliction of duty have been issued,” deputy chief minister and home minister Devendra Fadnavis posted on X.
Fadnavis said the state government has appointed Arti Singh, an inspector general-rank Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, to conduct the inquiry.
“It will be our endeavour to inquire into the incident at the earliest. We want to file the chargesheet in this case as soon as possible and place the matter before a fast-track court for hearing,” he said.
“Our police department will make complete efforts to get such a barbaric and inhuman act punished immediately,” the deputy chief minister added.
He slammed the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) working president, Supriya Sule, and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray for allegedly politicising the issue.
“It is unfortunate that the opposition seeks to gain political benefit out of such incidents. The opposition is devoid of any empathy. The politics of the opposition is coming to the fore,” the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said.
He said Thackeray should behave like a statesman and not stoop too low and indulge in politics on a sensitive issue of sexual abuse.
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.
“I have spoken to the Thane Commissioner of Police. The accused has been arrested. I have asked the case to be fast-tracked and book the accused under the charges of attempt to rape and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act,” he said.
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.
During a meeting with education minister Deepak Kesarkar, Shinde proposed several measures aimed at improving school safety and preventing future abuse like the installation of complaint boxes in every school, enhancing scrutiny of school staff who frequently interact with students, including the background checks, and establishing safe reporting mechanisms for students.
Shinde appealed to demonstrating parents to exercise restraint as the rail blockade was hampering the functioning of local trains.
Maharashtra education minister Deepak Kesarkar said, “We will see to it that the existing safety measures are further strengthened. We are issuing a circular today that CCTVs must be operational in each school. We will appoint a committee based on the Vishaka committee in schools as well. We will fast-track this case and give the strictest punishment to the accused. The school principal, the class teacher and 2 assistants have been suspended. The school also has been served a notice. A woman senior PI who delayed registering a case has been transferred but she should be suspended.”
“This is a very sad incident. The entire machinery of the state education department has been mobilized. We have given instructions to four IAS officers from Pune and Mumbai. We are investigating why the CCTV was not functioning in the school. After the complaint was lodged, no action was taken, so the Senior PI has been transferred. We will bring this case to a Fast Track court and ensure the maximum punishment for the accused. Our entire department is present here, and the safety of students is our priority,” he added.
Protesters reject government’s appeal to withdraw rail roko
State cabinet minister Girish Mahajan tried to pacify the protesters in the afternoon who responded with slogans like “justice” for the victim girls and capital punishment for the arrested accused. Mahajan’s appeal to vacate the train tracks was met with the chanting of “hang, hang” by demonstrators.
Mahajan, a close aide of deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, said police officials who allegedly failed to address the complaints of the parents of the victim girls have been suspended.
“The state government has expressed deep concern regarding the (sexual abuse) incident. The accused person will face the most severe punishment,” Mahajan said.
He said common citizens are suffering because of the rail roko protest, leading to the suspension of local trains.
“The track is occupied for more than six hours. The state government has taken all the decisions, demanded by the protestors,” Mahajan added. Protesters, however, refused to budge.
Meanwhile, a BJP MLA from the Murbad assembly constituency in Thane district, Kisan Kathore, alleged the protest at Badlapur railway station is politically motivated. He claimed agitators have come from neighbouring areas and not from Badlapur.
“These demonstrators are not from Badlapur city; they have arrived from neighbouring areas such as Ulhasnagar. A comprehensive investigation is conducted against the school principal and staff members who allegedly attempted to suppress the incident,” Kathore said.
He alleged some individuals associated with political parties had put up banners in Badlapur rejecting the funds offered under the “Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana”, but are now seeking justice. “The protesters at Badlapur station are not locals. They are residents of neighbouring areas,” he added.
NCPCR to dispatch team to probe Thane sexual-assault case; questions delay in lodging FIR
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) will dispatch a team to Thane in Maharashtra following the alleged sexual assault of a four-year-old girl in a school in the district. The apex child rights body has also questioned the delay in the registration of an FIR in the matter. The incident has sparked outrage, particularly due to a reported delay by the local police in lodging the First Information Report (FIR).
NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo took to social media to express his distress over the incident and announced that a team would be dispatched to investigate the matter.
He questioned why police made the victim’s parents wait for 12 hours to get an FIR lodged.
“I will personally monitor the investigation, and ensure that all negligent police officers are punished,” Kanoongo said in a post on X.
12 outstation trains diverted; Railways arranges buses for stranded commuters
The rail roko protest at Badlapur station led to the diversion of 12 long-distance trains via alternate routes, while authorities arranged buses for stranded commuters. As many as 30 suburban trains were partially cancelled, and the Railways approached the state and civic transport bodies to ply extra buses.
As protesters, including several women, came onto railway tracks and blocked traffic, local train services between Ambernath and Karjat stations were suspended from 10.10 am.
The protest turned violent as agitators vandalised the school, where the alleged incident occurred last week, and also indulged in stone-pelting at the Badlapur railway station, police said.
At least 12 mail-express trains, including Solapur-CSMT Vande Bharat Express, were diverted via Diva-Panvel-Karjat stations till 5 pm, said Swapnil Nila, chief public relations officer (CRPO) of Central Railway.
As many as 30 suburban trains between Ambernath and Karjat/ Khopoli have been cancelled so far, he said.
The number is likely to increase exponentially during the evening peak hour, he said.
The Railways has approached the state and municipal transport bodies to run 100 extra buses for commuters between Kalyan and Karjat, and they have received 55 buses, Nila said.
According to railway sources, Kolhapur-bound Koyna Express from Mumbai was held up for four hours between Ambernath and Badlapur stations. Around 1 pm, the train was reversed and diverted via the Kalyan-Diva-Panvel-Karjat route.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) deployed additional personnel at stations on the Kalyan-Karjat section of Central Railway, he said.
A senior divisional security manager, along with 60 jawans and 10 officials of the RPF, are closely monitoring the situation at Badlapur station with the Government Railway Police (GRP) staff.
(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)