Badlapur school incident: Cleaning staffer arrested for physically assaulting of 2 girls in Thane school, massive protest erupts

PTC News Desk: In a shocking incident, two three-year-old girls from a co-educational school in Maharashtra’s Thane district were allegedly sexually assaulted by a male cleaning staff member. The heinous crime took place in the girls’ toilet on August 12 and 13. The accused, Akshay Shinde, was swiftly arrested following a complaint filed by the girls’ parents on Friday night.

The incident has prompted a high-level investigation, with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordering the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. The SIT will be led by senior police officer Arti Singh, underscoring the seriousness with which the authorities are treating the case.

The court has placed Akshay Shinde under police remand for three days, during which further investigations will be conducted. The parents, devastated by the assault on their young children, were supported by local residents as they rushed to the police station to file their complaint. However, the situation took an unfortunate turn when it was reported that Senior Police Inspector Shubhada Shitole allegedly delayed registering the case, despite it falling under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act. This delay led to her immediate transfer.

The news of the assault sparked widespread outrage in Badlapur, with angry protestors taking to the streets. The protests escalated to the point where demonstrators halted the local train at Badlapur railway station, demanding swift justice for the victims and stricter safety measures in schools.

In response to the incident, the school’s administration has taken disciplinary action by suspending the principal, the class teacher, and the staff responsible for transporting the children, signaling the beginning of internal investigations into the school’s role in the matter.

The community remains on edge as the SIT continues its investigation, with parents and activists demanding justice for the young victims and accountability from those responsible.

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