Friday, 20 September 2024
Friday, 20 September 2024
Maharashtra’s Badlapur burned with rage over the alleged molestation of two minors studying in kindergarten by a school attendant at a local government school that took place on Saturday. The two minors are three and four years old.
The police arrested the accused on the basis of a complaint lodged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on Aug 17.
The leader of opposition Vijay Wadettiwar, of the Congress, alleged that the parents of one of the victims had to sit at the police station for 11 hours before they could lodge their complaint.
The school management suspended the principal, a class teacher, and a female attendant after the incident.
But the floodgates broke open on Tuesday as infuriated parents and protestors gathered at the Badlapur Railway Station in Thane district this morning and staged a 'rail roko' blockade, demanding justice for the victims. Train services went haywire and the protests led to the government forming a Special Investigation Team.
10 outstation trains diverted, services on Ambernath-Karjat route suspended
Local train services between Ambernath and Karjat stations were suspended from 10:10 am. Stone-pelting at the Badlapur railway station resulted in the diversion of 10 outstation trains, including the Solapur-CSMT Vande Bharat Express. The protest took a violent turn as agitators vandalised the school where the incident took place.
CM Eknath Shinde demands the accused be booked under attempt to rape charge
Eknath Shinde appealed to the protestors to exercise restraint as the rail blockade hampered the local train services. Shinde demanded the accused be booked under ‘attempt to rape’ charge and promised that the case will be expedited.
"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,” said Shinde.
Uddhav Thackeray chastised the Mahayuti government, demanded “speedy justice”
Shiv Sena’s (UBT) Uddhav Thackeray lamented that even though the Shinde-led Mahayuti government provided women with the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin scheme, which assures a financial assistance of RS 1,500 per month, the daughters were not safe in Maharashtra.
“The case should be fast-tracked, and the victims should be ensured speedy justice,” Thackeray said. He also alleged that BJP leaders were involved in the sexual abuse of the kindergarten girls.
“I have come to know that the school in which this incident took place belongs to the people of BJP. But I do not want to do politics in this matter, so whoever is guilty, whether he is a BJP worker or someone else, strict action should be taken against him,” he added.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis suspends three cops over delay in action
Reports of parents waiting for 11 hours to lodge the complaint upset Fadnavis. Fadnavis called it a serious crime and ordered the suspension of the senior police inspector, assistant sub-inspector and head constable of Badlapur police station.
“I strongly condemn this incident. The state government has formed an SIT under the leadership of a woman officer of IG rank to investigate the case,” Fadnavis also said.
