The Bombay High Court has taken swift action, initiating a suo motu hearing in response to the shocking sexual assault of two four-year-old girls at a school in Badlapur, located in Maharashtra’s Thane district. The case, which has stirred intense public outrage, is set to be reviewed on Thursday by a division bench comprising Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Prithviraj Chavan.
The horrifying incident occurred at a local kindergarten, where two young students were reportedly assaulted in the school’s toilet by a male sweeper. The accused, 23-year-old Akshay Shinde, was arrested last week, but the news has triggered a wave of anger and protests from parents and local citizens. On Tuesday, the situation escalated as demonstrators gathered outside the school, leading to a violent confrontation. Stones were thrown, and the school premises were vandalized, forcing the Maharashtra Police to intervene. Authorities arrested more than 40 people and lodged an FIR against 300 individuals involved in the protest.
The case came to light when one of the victims, a four-year-old girl, complained to her parents about pain in her private parts. Upon further questioning, the child revealed that the accused had inappropriately touched her when she visited the toilet. A conversation between the parents of both girls revealed that the children had been frightened to attend school and had shared similar accounts of their experiences. A local doctor subsequently confirmed that both girls had been sexually assaulted.
In response to the incident, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde assured the public that a special investigation team would be formed to ensure a thorough and swift inquiry. He also called for a review of the Sakhi Savitree committees across the state, which are intended to safeguard women and children.
Susieben Shah, Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, strongly criticized the school for failing to provide female attendants in the toilets, labeling the negligence as inexcusable. “The incident that happened in Badlapur yesterday is very condemnable. Yesterday I visited the school and also enquired there, and we felt that there were some shortcomings in all sections,” Shah remarked.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shinde has faced criticism from opposition parties, who have accused him of politicizing the case. In a show of protest, Congress state president Nana Patole, along with the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), has called for a Maharashtra Bandh on August 24.
As the case unfolds, the focus remains on ensuring justice for the young victims and addressing the broader issues of safety and accountability within the state’s educational institutions.