Mumbai: Protests Turn Violent in Badlapur Over Sexual Abuse of Nursery Students, Railway Services Disrupted
Reported by Tikam Shekhawat
Navi Mumbai, 20th August 2024: Tensions escalated in Badlapur today as angry parents and locals protested outside the school and Badlapur railway station, following the alleged sexual assault of two minor girls at the school. The incident, which occurred on August 13, involved two three-year-old girls who were reportedly assaulted by a man known as “Dada” at the school.
The situation worsened when parents, frustrated by what they perceived as police inaction, began demonstrating outside the school and the railway station. The protest, which lasted for over three hours, turned violent as demonstrators vandalized the school and threw stones at police officers at the railway station. Several citizens were reported injured during the clashes.
The Central Railway services were disrupted for more than three hours due to the protests. The police initially attempted to disperse the protesters using force, but the situation became more volatile when the demonstrators retaliated by throwing stones. The police then decided to retreat and avoid further confrontation.
Despite efforts by the police to calm the situation, the protesters, including many women, remained adamant in their demands. The demonstrators called for the immediate execution of the accused or for the accused to be handed over to them. The police have been trying to explain the legal process to the protesters, but a resolution has yet to be reached.
In interviews with news channels, several women expressed their anger and disappointment. One woman criticized Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, stating that if his mentor Anand Dighe were alive, justice would have been served swiftly. Another woman lamented the lack of political leadership during the protests, contrasting it with the quick response leaders would show if it were an event like Gautami Patil’s program. Many women also voiced their frustration with the “Ladki Bahin” scheme, criticizing its effectiveness.
The incident has caused outrage in the community, particularly as it took place in a reputed educational institution. The case came to light when one of the victims told her parents that a man at the school had inappropriately touched her. The concerned parents then contacted the parents of another girl in the same class. Suspicious of similar abuse, they took their daughter to a hospital in Badlapur East, where the assault was confirmed.
Following the hospital’s confirmation, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) office-bearers and the parents approached the Badlapur East police station to file a complaint. However, the parents allege that the police delayed in registering the case. It wasn’t until August 16, around 10 p.m., that a case was filed against an unknown individual under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act.
The incident has sparked widespread fear and anger among parents of students at the school, leading to today’s intense protests.
