Maharashtra Outrage :Protests Erupt Over Assault on Two Minor Girls in Badlapur School
The incident in focus pertains to sexual abuse of the two minor victims by a now arrested contractual cleaner named Akshay Shinde (23). As per reports, the accused who was in-charge of cleaning the female toilet, sexually abused the two girls on August 12 and 13. The parents of the abused minors became aware of the incident after the latter complained of pain and expressed reluctance to go to the school.
Even as the nation is still reeling from news of a Kolkata-based post graduate medical student being raped and murdered, anger boiled over in Badlapur when protesters brought Mumbai’s suburban railway services to halt on Monday (August 20) after two nursery school girls were allegedly sexually assaulted.
Thousands of angry protesters stalled railway services on the line that connects Mumbai and Pune, while a mob invaded the school where it was alleged last Tuesday’s incident took place.
In this Mahrashtra Outrage the protesters have been sitting on the railway tracks since 10.00 am in morning despite repeated appeals by the police to clear it. Enraged anti-social elements were heard shouting slogans, saying the accused should be publically hanged.
BREAKING NEWS Maharashtra 🚨
— Shiharan Ghosh (@ShiharanSpeaks) August 20, 2024
Public Protest at Badlapur Station
After 2 Nursery kids face alleged sexual assault by male attendence.
Now No BJP IT Cell tweet on incident?#Badlapur #Thane #Mumbai pic.twitter.com/anVBhrprU7
“We do not want the money that the state government is going to give to women in the name of Ladki Bahin Yojana, we just want all women to remain safe, including children. When the victim’s parents approached Maharashtra police here in Badlapur, they also refused to lodge a complaint. It took them 12 hours to even lodge an FIR. One irate protester talked to a local news channel about his anger at the incident: — It sickens us,we are parents of minor school going kids and every time we see such callousness our blood boils.
The current incident involves the sexual abuse of two minor victims by an arrested contractual cleaner named Akshay Shinde (23). The accused who was in-charge of cleaning the female toilet sexually assaulted two girls were reported between August 12 and 13. The parents of the toddlers who were being exploited had caught wind after their children once complained that they felt pain and refused to return to school.
The parents, in their complaint registered at Badlapur Police Station stated that the following night just after 12. But the police officials reportedly did not cooperate and even delayed filing their complaint to register a case.
On Monday, after the bandh protests by a far right group turned violent in and around Mankikar chowk here, Palghar Police had to reinstate Shitole while announcing an inquiry into alleged “lapses”.
Attention has also been drawn to the role of the school as closed circuit TV cameras in its installed reportedly non-operational. The school authorities said that after the protests, they have removed both from services including of the principal and class teacher responsible for it where those minors studied.
Expressing serious concern over the incident, a statement of state government read: We also obliged all schools and colleges in the state, to follow Sakhi Savitri Samiti on guidelines after Vishakha Committee Guidelines were met immediately when molestation or sexual harassment came across. We have established that the school did not, so we are taking steps in response.
The demand for death penalty is part of the call we have made to public prosecutors across Maharashtra, who will also be told to seek maximum punishment against the accused,” said State School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar.
Photo Credit : X Twitter
The National Commission For Women has also condemned the incident. According to the report, it may also send an investigation team for inquiring into lapses committed by officials of child welfare bodies who failed to ensure safety of children and police officers for not ensuring quick redressal of complaints made by parents.
It also evoked condemnation of the Maharashtra governmnet for its failure to maintain law and order in state.
“This is an extremely tragic event. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar are what we idealise for establishing a fair, unbiased rule in the state of Maharashtra. The ruling Mahayuti government, however, has failed to keep the law and order in its hands.
It has been observed that the working of Maharashtra Police too is convinient now. It is distressing to know that the parents of a victim had to knock every door just to get an FIR registered. That means the ultimate responsibility lies with those who run the department. Home — Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP) leader and MP Supriya Sule said, State’s crime graph is rising constantly under his government; he ought to resign.
“I don’t want to politicise it, but I hear that the school trustees of the high-profile institution where this unfortunately happened are in some way associated with BJP. These trustees however tried to cover the matter over. Shiv Sena, the opposition party said — I feel that when leaders of ruling coalition train their guns over West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for Kolkata rape and murder issue; they should also introspect in how their own functionaries behave.
