Two girls, aged three and four, were allegedly sexually assaulted in the girls’ toilet by school cleaning staff in the Thane district of the Indian state of Maharashtra, sparking outrage and protests. “Rail Roko” protest started.
Protesters ransacked the station over the rape of two kindergarten students studying at a co-ed school. Among the protestors were parents of children studying in the school and others, including several women.
After which a police case was registered and the sanitation staff identified as Akshay Shinde was arrested on August 17.
It is also alleged that Senior Police Inspector Shobhada Shitole allegedly delayed the case even though it is a POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses) case.
After which the inspector was immediately transferred.
The accused was appointed on contract basis on 1st August.
The school also did not follow the rule of only female staff with children in the nursery.
The school administration has suspended the principal, a class teacher and a female attendant over the incident.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has assured to speed up the case, adding that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will probe the case. The SIT will be headed by Inspector General of Police rank officer Aarti Singh.
More than six hours have passed since protesters blocked local trains at Badlapur railway station. According to news agency PTI, services between Karjat and Kalyan sections were affected due to the protest.
In addition, 10 long-distance trains were diverted to alternative routes due to the protests. Badlapur Bandh has been called by many organizations against this incident.
Sixty jawans and 10 personnel of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) are monitoring the situation at Badlapur station.