Protests Escalate Over School Abuse Case

Protests continued at Badlapur railway station in Thane district as concerned citizens rallied against the alleged sexual abuse of two young girls from a kindergarten. Even after six hours, the crowd, which included many women, stood firm in their demand for justice.

State cabinet minister Girish Mahajan tried to calm the protesters, urging them to clear the railway tracks. But instead of listening, the crowd responded with chants demanding justice for the girls and calling for the harshest punishment for the accused.

Mahajan, who is a close associate of Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, indicated that police officials who had failed to properly respond to the parents’ complaints had been suspended. He emphasized the state’s serious concern over the incident, assuring that the accused would face severe consequences.

However, protesters remained steadfast, stating that their demands had yet to be fully met. Mahajan pointed out that the ongoing protest was disrupting train services, affecting everyday travelers.

In addition, BJP MLA Kisan Kathore from the Murbad assembly constituency claimed that the protest was politically motivated. He alleged that many demonstrators were not actually from Badlapur, but were outsiders from nearby areas like Ulhasnagar.

Kathore suggested that some individuals linked to political parties were trying to manipulate the situation, despite having previously rejected funds under a specific government scheme. He stressed that a thorough investigation into the school staff’s actions was ongoing.

Police had detained an attendant from the school on August 17, following accusations that he had sexually abused two girls, aged three and four, in the school’s restroom. The school’s management responded by suspending the principal, a teacher, and a female attendant in connection with the disturbing incident.