20th Aug 2024: Thane
Two four-year-old girls were sexually assaulted by a cleaning staff member at an English medium school in Thane, Maharashtra. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, leading to massive protests, with residents blocking the Mumbai rail route at Badlapur railway station, causing a complete halt in train services.
Protest turn violent in thane - VC: X (Nitesh Mishra)
Visuals from the scene showed protesters pelting stones at the police as they fled across the railway tracks. The assault took place on August 16, when the 23-year-old male cleaning staff member allegedly attacked the girls inside the school’s toilet. Following the incident, an FIR was filed, and the accused has since been arrested.
accused was beaten up by public - X(SachinGupta)
The school's response to the incident has done little to appease the anger of parents and local residents. Although the school administration has suspended the principal and dismissed the class teacher and nanny involved, parents remain deeply dissatisfied.
Many parents feel that the school has not fully taken responsibility for the safety of their children, and their frustration has been compounded by the absence of an official apology or assurance from the school management.
Police investigations have uncovered significant lapses in the school's security measures. It was revealed that no female attendants were present in the girls' toilets, a basic safety requirement in any educational setting. Furthermore, many of the school's CCTV cameras were found to be non-functional, highlighting a serious failure in maintaining proper security protocols.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the sexual assault cases in Thane. He has also directed the Thane Police Commissioner to submit a proposal today to move the case to a fast-track court. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has also acknowledged the severity of the incident. "I have taken serious cognizance of the incident in Badlapur. An SIT has already been formed, and we are also taking action against the school where the incident occurred. We are in the process of fast-tracking this case, and no one will be spared if found guilty," he stated.
Vijay Wadettiwar, the Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra, has criticised the state’s law and order situation, describing it as a breakdown. "This incident is going to bring shame to Maharashtra. Everyone is demanding that the case be tried on a fast track, and the accused be hanged within three months," the Congress leader said.
Former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray also called for swift justice. "Ten years ago, the Nirbhaya case happened in Delhi, and the guilty were punished, but after how long? Those delaying justice should also be held guilty. There should be no politicization," he added.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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