Two four-year-old girls were allegedly sexually assaulted by Akshay Shinde, a school sweeper, in a washroom at a prominent Badlapur school. Shinde, employed through a third-party contractor, was arrested after significant public outcry and pressure from the victims’ families.
The case gained traction following claims that local police initially downplayed the severity, delaying filing the FIR for over 12 hours. This prompted the victims’ parents to demand severe punishment and stage widespread protests, including a city-wide shutdown and disruptions to local train services.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has sent a team to investigate the incident. In response, the school issued a public apology, promising enhanced security measures, including more CCTV cameras. However, the administration’s actions were deemed insufficient by parents, leading to the principal’s suspension, the teacher’s and two attendants’ dismissal, and the cleaning contractor’s termination.
The incident also led to administrative changes in the local police force, with the senior inspector being transferred. Politicians across party lines have condemned the incident, with Maharashtra’s Home Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, urging for a swift resolution, and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde calling for non-disruptive protests. The case has highlighted ongoing safety concerns and spurred calls for urgent reforms.
