Public Outrage Erupts Over School Incident
In Badlapur, the community’s trust in safety measures has significantly eroded following a shocking incident at Adarsh Vidya Mandir School. The incident involved the sexual assault of two kindergarten girls, aged 3 and 4, by Akshay Shinde, a cleaning staff member. The assaults, which occurred on August 13, 2024, have sparked widespread protests, including a demonstration at the school and a ‘Rail Roko’ at Badlapur railway station on August 20, 2024.
The Incident
The assaults came to light when one of the victim’s relatives became suspicious after noticing the child’s reluctance to attend school and use the bathroom. She was not even walking properly. This behaviour was initially mistaken for a urinary tract infection. Further investigation revealed that another classmate had experienced a similar ordeal, leading the family to have their child examined as well. The parents of the victims faced delays of up to 12 hours in filing the FIR, a delay attributed to the negligent behaviour various Police officials who has since been transferred. On August 17, police arrested an attendant at the school, Akshay Shinde,23, for Sexually abusing the two girls.“An arrest is the least of what he should face” protestors across the city took to the streets, demanding the death of the culprit.
Protests Escalate
While speaking with the TruetoLife , one of the prime protestor, Sanika Godbole , shared, “The protests began at 6:30 AM near the school, where we voiced our anger with slogans like, “Ladki bahin yojana nako, surakhshit bahin yojana havi” (We don’t need schemes for girls, we need safety schemes), and “Pratek mahila kadhe revolver thevnyacha kaida kadha” (Every woman should carry a revolver as per law)”.The situation escalated when some protestors forced their way into the school premises, leading to a police baton charge. In retaliation, stones were thrown at the police, prompting them to use tear gas to disperse the crowd.The use of tear gas caused significant distress among the protestors, Protestor Sanika expressed, “It was extremely painful for us; particularly elderly citizens, women, and minors, who suffered from excessive tearing, nasal burning, and choking sensations”. The protestors expressed their helplessness against the authorities, highlighting the mockery and dismissive attitudes of the politicians and police officers involved.
Politician’s Controversial Statement
The protestor stated how the situation took a controversial turn when politician Vaman Mhatre, responding to a reporter’s questions, remarked, “You’re asking questions as if you have been raped”. He later denied making the statement live on media despite it being witnessed by many protestors. Additionally, one police official was reportedly heard mocking a protestor, saying, ‘That lady in a green saree, I showed her my rifle, and she ran away’, further intensifying the public’s anger, Sanika shared.
Rail Roko Protest
The protests continued with a ‘Rail Roko’ and ‘Badlapur Bandh’ at the railway station starting at 10:30 AM, lasting until 4 PM. Sanika explained, “The situation turned chaotic when some protestors began throwing stones at the police, resulting in another baton charge by the officials”.
Background of the Accused
Akshay Shinde, the accused, had previously worked at Tushar Apte’s farmhouse before joining the school as a cleaner on August 1, 2024, replacing his brother. Shinde, who has been married three times, reportedly had a history of perverted behaviour, leading to his wives leaving him.
Case Negligence
The investigation revealed that the newly shifted washroom area, where the incidents occurred, did not have CCTV cameras installed. Furthermore, the school management failed to appoint female attendants for the girls’ washroom, raising serious concerns about the school’s safety protocols.Bombay High Court pulls up Maharashtra Police, questioning why the Badlapur Police did not record the statement of the second victim girl under Section 164.
Latest Developments
The court has requested an affidavit from the state government detailing the actions taken by Badlapur Police before the case was transferred to the SIT(Special Investigation Team). The matter is scheduled for its next hearing on August 27, 2024. In response to the incident, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has called for a “Maharashtra bandh” on August 24, 2024, to protest against the alleged assault and the authorities’ handling of the case. The case is left with hopes ‘No stone will be left unturned to ensure justice’.
Article by Sanjana Shelar from Mumbai
for TRUE TO LIFE News Media
Sources: Various media reports
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