Badlapur sexual assault case: Internet suspended, trains diverted amid protests
Badlapur town in Maharashtra's Thane district has been engulfed by widespread protests following the alleged sexual assault of two four-year-old girls. The accused is a cleaner employed at a local school. Authorities have temporarily suspended internet services to prevent the spread of misinformation and rumors about the incident. "No section has been imposed. Internet services will be suspended for a few days so that rumors do not spread," Manoj Patil, DCP, GRP of Central Railway said.
Government's response to the sexual assault case
In response to the incident, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has appointed senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam as the special public prosecutor for this case. Fadnavis also confirmed that a fast-track court will handle the trial. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has ordered a high-level investigation into the matter and announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Police suspensions and train diversions amid protests
Following the sexual assault incident, three police officers have been suspended. The protests have also caused significant disruptions to railway services, leading to the diversion of several long-distance trains including the Mumbai-Surat Vande Bharat and Pune Duronto. Local train services on the Ambarnath and Karjat routes were also affected due to these demonstrations.
Investigation into school's CCTV failure
State Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar has initiated an investigation to determine why the CCTV cameras at the school were not operational. He revealed that four Indian Administrative Services officers from Pune and Mumbai have been assigned to work on this case. In addition, Vishakha committees will be established at the school level to provide a platform for students to voice their grievances.
NHRC takes notice of Badlapur sexual assault case
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo moto cognizance of the Badlapur sexual assault case and has sought a detailed report on the incident. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi expressed her outrage over the incident and urged President Ram Nath Kovind to approve the Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law. The two girls were allegedly sexually assaulted by a 23-year-old male cleaner, Akshay Shinde, on August 12-13 in the girls' toilet.
Parents' dissatisfaction with police handling of case
The parents of the victims have expressed dissatisfaction with how the police handled their case, alleging that an FIR was registered more than 12 hours after they lodged a complaint. They also questioned why a female staff member was not assigned to clean the girls' washroom, a standard practice that could have potentially prevented such an incident. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has announced it will send a team to Badlapur for an inquiry into this case.
NCPCR chairperson blames school authorities for negligence
NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanungo has accused the school authorities of trying to suppress the case and alleged that the concerned police station did not register the FIR in a timely manner. He also blamed the school's negligence for this incident, stating that action would be taken against the administration for attempting to "suppress the case."
