News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/20th August 2024
Protests broke out in Badlapur, a town near Mumbai, following the shocking revelation that two four-year-old nursery students were sexually abused by a school sweeper in Thane district. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, leading to large-scale demonstrations at the Badlapur railway station, where local train services were disrupted as angry residents blocked the tracks to demand justice.
The disturbing incident occurred at a well-known English medium school in Badlapur, where the newly hired sweeper allegedly assaulted the two young girls. The accused, a 24-year-old man, was arrested on Saturday. However, the parents of the victims expressed deep dissatisfaction with how the police handled the case, claiming that authorities delayed filing the First Information Report (FIR) for over 12 hours after the complaint was lodged. It was only after the intervention of the District Women and Child Welfare Department that the FIR was registered, well past midnight.
The protests have drawn significant attention, with various local groups, including rickshaw unions, traders’ unions, and political parties, joining the demonstrations to demand justice for the victims. The demonstrations at Badlapur railway station, a major transit hub, have significantly disrupted local train services, affecting commuters and intensifying public anger.
The school administration has come under intense scrutiny for its handling of the situation. On Monday, the school suspended the principal, class teacher, and female attendant, holding them accountable for the incident. The administration also faced criticism for allowing a male sweeper to accompany young girls to the washroom, a policy that has raised serious concerns about the safety protocols in place at the school.
The horrifying incident came to light when one of the victims confided in her grandfather about the abuse. The family then contacted the parents of the other victim, who revealed that their daughter had recently shown signs of fear and reluctance to attend school. The parents took their daughters to a private doctor, who confirmed that the girls had been sexually abused. With this evidence, the families approached a local Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader, who helped them file a complaint at the police station.
However, the families faced further frustration at the police station, where they were allegedly made to wait for hours before their statements were recorded. The police in-charge, Shubhada Shitole, reportedly delayed the FIR process, stating the need to verify the claims. It was only after the intervention of the District Women and Child Welfare Department that a case was filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Shitole has since been transferred to the special branch as a consequence of the delay.
The accused remains in police custody, with his remand extended until August 21. The case has sparked widespread condemnation, with Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi expressing her outrage over the incident. She urged the President to approve the Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law to ensure that such incidents do not recur.
The Badlapur school molestation case has ignited a broader conversation about child safety in schools, the accountability of educational institutions, and the urgent need for stricter laws to protect vulnerable children. As the investigation continues, the residents of Badlapur, along with concerned citizens across the state, are calling for swift justice and reforms to prevent such tragedies in the future.
