The incident occurred on the nights of August 12 and 13 when two three-year-old girls.
Attending pre-primary classes at a co-ed school in Maharashtra’s Thane District, were allegedly sexually assaulted by a male cleaning staff member in the girls’ toilet. Outrage over the assault led to protests, with demonstrators halting local train services at Badlapur railway station.
In response to the incident, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case.
The team, led by senior police officer Arti Singh, will probe the circumstances surrounding the assault. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has also promised to expedite the investigation, emphasizing the state’s commitment to swift justice.
The assault came to light after both girls, terrified by the ordeal, refused to attend school. Upon questioning, they revealed the details of the assault to their parents, who immediately filed a complaint.
The police subsequently arrested the accused, identified as Akshay Shinde, and a court has remanded him in police custody for three days.
Further investigation revealed that the school’s CCTV cameras were not operational on the day of the incident, raising concerns about the school’s safety protocols. The school administration has since suspended the principal, the class teacher, and two assistants, and the institution itself has been issued a notice.
Maharashtra Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar has announced measures to strengthen safety in schools, including the mandatory operation of CCTV cameras and the formation of committees in line with the Vishaka guidelines. Kesarkar also indicated that the case will be fast-tracked, with the accused facing the harshest possible punishment.
The assault has sparked widespread anger, leading to protests that disrupted local train services for several hours.
In addition to the railway blockade, shops and establishments in the Bhagalpur area were shut down in solidarity with the victims. Demonstrators also gathered outside the school where the incident took place, demanding justice.
Amid the unrest, the police arrested several protesters for stone pelting outside the school. There was also controversy surrounding the delay in filing the initial police report. Senior police inspector Shubhada Shitole, accused of delaying the registration of the case despite it being a POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses) case, was transferred as a result.
