Following the tragic Kolkata doctor’s rape and murder, the sexual abuse of two four-year-old girls at a Badlapur school allegedly by a sweeper has drawn national attention. The outrage over the assault grew after more details emerged.
The efforts of the administration to defuse the tension was answered by "hang, hang" chants from the protesters who demanded death penalty for the 23-year-old cleaner.
On Tuesday, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notices to the Maharashtra chief secretary and the director general of police, demanding a detailed report on the matter. This includes an explanation for the delayed registration of the FIR, the current status of the case, and the health condition of the victims.
The girls' parents initially approached the Badlapur police station to file a complaint around noon on August 16, but they were made to wait for 12 hours. The FIR was finally registered after midnight, and the accused was arrested on Saturday.
As news of the incident spread, outrage over the police’s delayed response grew. Local residents took to social media to condemn the police and demand accountability from both the school management and the officer responsible for the delay. Women's organizations announced a Badlapur bandh for Tuesday, further escalating the situation.
In response, the school administration took disciplinary action against the principal, the class teacher, and the woman attendant for failing to protect the children. The accused sweeper's employment contract was terminated.
Tuesday morning saw large numbers of protesters, including many parents of students, gather outside the school. The bandh shut down the entire city, with even autorickshaws halting services. People at the Ambarnath-Badlapur border were seen stopping autos from entering the city and forcing passengers to walk the remaining distance.
Tensions escalated further that led to a 10-hour train disruption on Tuesday as over 2,000 men and women blocked the railway tracks. The protest resulted in a complete shutdown of Badlapur, with even auto-rickshaws ceasing to operate.
As the outrage grew, a mob of parents and locals attacked the school where two young girls were sexually abused. According to police, a crowd of around 2,000 people gathered outside the school at 6.30 am demanding a meeting with the administration.
When their demands were not met, around 300-400 protesters forced their way into the school, breaking the gate and destroying classroom.
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