Mumbai: In Badlapur, Maharashtra, a school in Thane district has suspended its Principal and two staff members following allegations of sexual abuse involving two young girls. Since Tuesday morning, frustrated parents have been staging a blockade at the local railway station, demanding strict action against those responsible.
Hundreds of enraged parents and residents occupied the tracks at Badlapur Railway Station around 8 am on Tuesday, halting train services on both Up and Down routes to draw attention to their demands. The disruption has been ongoing since the morning.
On August 17, police arrested a school attendant accused of sexually abusing two kindergarten girls, aged three and four. According to the complaint, the abuse occurred in the school’s restroom. The girls reported the inappropriate touching to their parents, leading to a case being filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The attendant was subsequently arrested.
In response to the incident, the school management announced late Monday that they had suspended the Principal, a class teacher, and a female attendant, holding them accountable for the abuse. They also issued an apology and terminated the contract with the housekeeping firm involved. Increased vigilance on school premises will be implemented, the management stated.
The Badlapur police have also reassigned the police station in-charge for allegedly failing to act when the parents initially sought help.
On Tuesday morning, a large group of parents gathered outside the school, demanding severe consequences for the perpetrators. Protesters, including many women, carried banners and placards and blocked the railway tracks, chanting slogans for justice. Authorities are struggling to manage the situation, with ongoing efforts to appease the demonstrators.
Central Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Swapnil Nila, confirmed that the agitation at the railway station is related to the school incident in Badlapur. Several organizations have called for a bandh in Badlapur to protest the case.
Local MLA Kisan Kathore has urged authorities to take strong action against both the accused and the police officers who failed to respond appropriately.
