Outrage in Badlapur: Parents block trains after alleged sexual assault of schoolgirls

Tensions escalated in Badlapur, Thane district, as hundreds of enraged parents and locals disrupted train services at the Badlapur railway station around 8 AM on Tuesday. The protest erupted following the alleged sexual assault of two young girls, aged three and four, at a local school. The parents, demanding strict action against the culprits, blocked the tracks, causing significant disruption to train movement on both Up and Down routes.

The incident that sparked the outrage occurred on August 17, when a school attendant was arrested for allegedly molesting the girls in the school’s toilet. Following the incident, the school’s management suspended the principal, a class teacher, and a female attendant, and issued an apology, stating they had also blacklisted the housekeeping contractor responsible for employing the accused.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde assured the public that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been formed to expedite the case, promising swift justice. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray called for a fast-track trial and criticized the state’s handling of the case, pointing out inconsistencies in the government’s focus on women’s safety.

As the protest continued, Central Railway officials were forced to divert 10 express trains and suspend services between Badlapur and Karjat. Efforts to calm the protesters were ongoing, as police struggled to manage the situation. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with demands for stronger laws and increased safety measures for women and children in Maharashtra.