"Badlapur School Sexual Abuse: Lawyers Refuse Accused's Case, Internet Suspended Amid Protests – Key Points

Badlapur School Sexual Abuse: Internet is down in Badlapur in Maharashtra’s Thane district and most schools are shut today, August 21, a day after a huge protest at Badlapur railway station over the alleged sexual abuse of two 4-year-old girls at a kindergarten.

Protesters stormed railway stations and blocked trains. Here are the top updates.

Maha Vikas Aghadi has called for a Maharashtra Bandh on August 24 to protest against Badlapur incident and increasing crime against women and girls. In a MVA meeting, leaders from three parties – Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP – discussed Badlapur incident and overall women and girls safety in the state.

On Tuesday, the entire Badlapur town came to a halt as thousands of protesters blocked the railway tracks at the station and stormed a local school after the alleged sexual abuse of two girls by the school sweeper in the washroom last week.

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Protesters pelted stones at the police and damaged the school building over the sexual abuse incident. Police cane-charged the protesters to disperse them and clear the tracks for train movement.

“We are in the process to fast track this case, and no one will be spared if found guilty,” Shinde was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

As per the complaint, Akshay Shinde abused the girls in the toilet of the school. After the incident, the school management has suspended the principal, a class teacher and a female attendant.

State government on Tuesday suspended three police officials including a senior police inspector for alleged negligence in probe of the two girls.

Parents of school-going kids and local residents including women gathered outside the school on Tuesday morning and also resorted to ‘rail roko’ at the railway station and blocked the path of local trains from 8.30 am.

Some of the protesters including women later damaged the school property by breaking the gate, window panes, benches and doors. The school where the incident took place is of a relative of a BJP leader from Badlapur.

पश्चिम बंगाल, यूपी, बिहार के बाद महाराष्ट्र में भी बेटियों के खिलाफ शर्मनाक अपराध सोचने पर मजबूर करते हैं कि हम एक समाज के तौर पर कहां जा रहे हैं?

बदलापुर में दो मासूमों के साथ हुए अपराध के बाद उनको इंसाफ दिलाने के लिए पहला कदम तब तक नहीं उठाया गया जब तक जनता ‘न्याय की गुहार’…

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 21, 2024

Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X, "After West Bengal, UP, Bihar, the shameful crimes against daughters in Maharashtra also force us to think where are we heading as a society?”

“After the crime against two innocent people in Badlapur, the first step to give them justice was not taken until the public came out on the streets demanding justice. Will we now have to protest to even register an FIR? Why has it become so difficult for victims to even go to the police station?"

He added, "More efforts are made to hide crime than to provide justice, the biggest victims of which are women and people of weaker sections. Not filing an FIR not only discourages the victims but also encourages the criminals.”

“All governments, citizens and political parties will have to seriously brainstorm on what steps should be taken to provide a safe environment to women in the society. Justice is the right of every citizen; he cannot be made dependent on the will of the police and administration."

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Shah told ANI," The incident that happened in Badalpur yesterday is very condemnable. Yesterday I visited the school and also enquired there and we felt that there were some shortcomings in all sections."

"Unless we create a separate structure for children and women, I don't think there will be much difference because in every district, in every taluka, the number of women and children is 70% and in every district, 15% of the crime is against women and children and that is why a separate structure is needed," Shah added.

10 Key Points

Yesterday, Akshay Shinde was produced in the court in Kalyan and his police custody was extended till August 26. He is an attendant at the same school where the incident happened last week. He was brought to the court this morning in a police van.

The court extended his police custody till August 26 and then he was taken away in the van, said a senior official. He was arrested on August 17. As per the complaint, he abused two kindergarten girls in the school toilet, said the police.

17 city police and 8 railway police were injured in stone pelting at railway station and other parts of Badlapur on Tuesday and 72 persons have been arrested in this connection.

Police force has been deployed in the town and things are slowly getting back to normal in Badlapur.

As per the locals, on Wednesday most of the school were closed.

On Wednesday, DCP Sudhakar Pathare said, "The internet services will be restored after taking a review of the situation in the town."

Senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam said, "This is a sensitive case. It is shameful why the police officers did not not take up the matter seriously. Why the senior police officials ignored the complaint will definitely be probed and those found guilty will be punished. The most important thing is that during such cases, if the police delay in taking cognisance, then crucial evidence is lost."

GRP Commissioner Ravindra Shisve said one FIR has been registered in connection with Badlapur railway station violence and 32 people have been arrested.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis today ordered a special team to be formed to probe the matter, while CM Eknath Shinde said action will be taken against the school. Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said the protest at Badlapur was political and to defame the state government.

As per the officials, on the Ambernath-Karjat section, Local train services will be resumed after 10 hours.

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