Badlapur school physical assault: Bombay High Court takes suo motu cognizance after Thane protest, hearing scheduled for today
Badlapur school physical assault: The Bombay High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the alleged sexual assault of two four-year-old girls at a school in Badlapur, Thane district, Maharashtra. The case will be heard on Thursday by a division bench consisting of Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Prithviraj Chavan.
The alleged abuse came to light after two kindergarten students reported being sexually assaulted by a male sweeper, identified as 23-year-old Akshay Shinde, in the school's toilet. The incident sparked outrage among parents and locals, leading to a protest outside the school on Tuesday.
The demonstration turned violent, with protesters throwing stones and vandalising the school. In response, the Maharashtra Police arrested over 40 individuals and filed an FIR against approximately 300 people involved in the unrest.
#WATCH | Maharashtra: ACP Badlapur, Suresh Varade says, "Some rumours are being spread about the incident that took place on the campus. An appeal is being made by the police station and the commissioner to not believe the rumours. If you have any questions or want to know… pic.twitter.com/oNbmMj0dAo — ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2024
The assault was revealed when one of the victims complained of pain in her private area and told her parents about being touched inappropriately. Upon further discussion, it was found that both girls had been fearful of attending school and had shared similar experiences. A local doctor has since confirmed the sexual assault.
In reaction to the incident, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has vowed to take swift action, forming a special investigation team and initiating a review of the Sakhi Savitree committees, which are designed to ensure the safety of women and children.
Susieben Shah, chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, criticised the school for its lack of female attendants in the toilets and its overall negligence. She condemned the incident as "very condemnable" and noted deficiencies in the school's procedures.
Chief Minister Shinde has faced criticism from opposition parties, including Congress state president Nana Patole and the NCP(SP), for allegedly politicising the case. In response, these parties have called for a Maharashtra Bandh on August 24.
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- With inputs from agencies
