Badlapur assault case: How one girl’s confession unraveled Thane school scandal

On Tuesday, Badlapur railway station in Maharashtra's Thane district became the epicenter of large-scale protests following the alleged sexual assault of two four-year-old girls by a school cleaner. The incident triggered outrage among the local community, leading to the blocking of train tracks by thousands of protesters. This significant agitation caused widespread disruption of local train services and led to the diversion of several long-distance trains.

Police Intervention and Escalation

The protest, which lasted for nine hours, saw the police resort to lathi charge to disperse the crowd at Badlapur railway station. The demonstrators, largely composed of parents and concerned citizens, were demanding swift and strict action against the accused and those responsible for the lack of supervision in the school where the alleged assault took place.

The Incident and Arrest

The horrifying incident reportedly occurred on August 12-13 at a well-known co-educational school in Badlapur. The accused, a 23-year-old male cleaner named Akshay Shinde, was hired on a contractual basis just days before the alleged crime. The assault took place in the girls’ toilet, which lacked female staff supervision. The issue came to light when one of the young victims complained of pain and revealed the abuse to her parents, leading to the discovery that another girl had also been victimized. The parents filed a complaint on the night of August 16, leading to Shinde’s arrest.

Public Outrage and School Response

The situation escalated rapidly on Tuesday morning when a silent protest by the victims' parents outside the school attracted a large crowd, exacerbating the situation due to inadequate police presence. The school has since suspended the principal and three staff members. However, public anger remains unabated, with many demanding the death penalty for the accused.

Railway Disruptions

The protests led to severe disruptions in train services. The Central Railway's CPRO confirmed the diversion of 12 mail express trains and the partial cancellation of 30 local trains on the route. The situation remains tense, with authorities working to restore normalcy.