Day After Protests Over Badlapur Sexual Assault, Over 40 Detained After FIR Against 300 People; Local Train Services Resume

The Thane Police have arrested over 40 people and registered a First Information Report (FIR) against at least 300 people for protesting and blocking railway tracks at Badlapur railway station over the alleged sexual assault of two four-year-old girls by the sweeper in the washroom of a school in the town.

The police said that the arrested protestors would be presented in court on Wednesday.

DCP, GRP of central railway, Manoj Patil said, “The situation is normal, railway movement is also normal. No section has been imposed. Internet services will be suspended for a few days so that rumours do not spread…”

Meanwhile, the situation at Badlapur railway station returned to normal and the local trains were operation at their normal pace a day after an intense ‘rail roko’ protest.

Thousands of protestors on Tuesday blocked railway tracks at Badlapur station which caused massive disruption of local train services and diversion of some long-distance trains. At least 15 outstation trains and suspension of local train services on the Ambernath-Karjat section for ten hours, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

Meanwhile, a heavy police force has been deployed at the Badlapur Railway Station and at the school here two kindergarten girls were allegedly sexually abused.

The opposition leaders including NCP (SCP) leader Supriya Sule and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray slammed the Eknath Shinde-led state government over the horrendous crime with the former seeking deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ resignation over the incident, alleging that he had failed in arresting the crime rate in the state. Sule also held a protest along with party workers against the government.

Further, Uddhav Thackeray demanded that the case should be fast-tracked and speedy justice should be ensured to the victims. Talking to reporters, Thackeray said on the one hand the state government is running the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin scheme, but daughters of sisters are not safe.

He alleged politics was played over crime against women by targeting certain States. “The (Badlapur) case should be fast-tracked and speedy justice should be ensured to the victims,” he said.

He further claimed the school where the girls were allegedly abused sexually was linked to BJP leaders.

Chief minister Eknath Shinde, however, hit out at the opposition parties and the rail roko protest and said that it was a political motivated agitation. “I already informed the police to take action against school management,” he said.

Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said that the Badlapur incident will be speedily investigated and the case will be processed in the fast track court. The Maharashtra government also ordered the suspension of three police officials, including a senior police inspector, for alleged dereliction of duty in probing the case.

Police on August 17 arrested an attendant at the school for sexually abusing two girl students of the kindergarten. As per the complaint, he abused the girls in the toilet of the school, an official said. The school management has also suspended the principal, a class teacher, and a female attendant, over the incident.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took note of the incident and has sought a detailed report from the Maharashtra government in two weeks. It also wants a report on the alleged delay in filing an FIR in the matter, and has issued notices to the chief secretary and director general of police.