Two three-year-old girls, students in the pre-primary classes of a co-ed school in Badlapur, Maharashtra, were allegedly sexually assaulted by a male cleaning staff member in the girls’ toilet. The incident took place in Thane District on August 12 and 13 when the girls went to use the toilet.
VIDEO | People gather in huge number demanding justice after a school sweeper in Maharashtra’s Badlapur was arrested for assaulting two young girls. Here’s what DCP Sudhakar Pathare said:
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Public Outrage and Protests
The incident sparked widespread protests across Badlapur, with angry demonstrators halting a local train at the Badlapur railway station in a show of outrage.
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Arrest and Police Action
The police have registered a case and arrested the accused, Akshay Shinde. He has been remanded to three days of police custody by the court. The parents of the victims filed a complaint on Friday night, leading to the immediate arrest of the suspect.
Police Response and Allegations of Delay
After discovering the assault, the enraged parents, accompanied by local residents, rushed to the police station to lodge a complaint. However, senior police inspector Shubhada Shitole allegedly delayed taking action, despite the case falling under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses) Act. The inspector was subsequently transferred in response to the alleged delay.
School’s Response
In the wake of the incident, the school administration has suspended the principal, the class teacher, and the staff member responsible for transporting the children.
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