Even as Badlapur in Thane is reeling from protests over the alleged sexual assault on two nursery students by a sweeper at a reputed school in the district, reports have emerged about the delay by the police in taking action against the accused initially.
The school administration, on Monday, suspended the principal, a class teacher and a female attendant, apart from sacking the accused. As per the complaint, the sweeper sexually abused the four-year-old girls in the toilet of the school. He was arrested on August 17.
However, Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra assembly Vijay Wadettiwar alleged that the parents of the children were made to wait at the police station for 11 hours before the FIR was filed. “They (parents of the girls) are made to wait for 11 hours when they seek to file a complaint. Is there any sensitivity left? I spoke to the police commissioner and told him that the woman police officer responsible for this delay must be suspended immediately."
The parents also, reportedly, said that while the incident happened on August 13, the case was filed only on August 16.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has ordered a probe into the alleged sexual assault and a special investigation team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the case, which will be headed by senior IPS officer Arti Singh.
"The incident that has happened is serious. The state government has formed an SIT, and an IG-level woman officer will head the SIT. We will try that this case is investigated immediately, a chargesheet is prepared and the case is taken up in a fast-track court, so that the victims get justice," Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.
He added that the state government has ordered the suspension of three police officials, including a senior police inspector, for alleged dereliction of duty in probing the sexual abuse of the two girls.
Thousands took to the streets on Tuesday to protest against the alleged sexual abuse. The demonstrators vandalised the school and pelted stones at Badlapur railway station during the 'rail roko' agitation. Central Railway train services and suburban services were severely disrupted following the protests. Police had to resort to lathi-charge to disperse the protesters.
War of words between Mahajan and Danve
Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Girish Mahajan justified the police action against protesters who blocked rail tracks at Badlapur station. He said the state government had accepted most of the demands made by protesters, but it was not possible to publicly execute the accused. However, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Ambadas Danve of the Shiv Sena (UBT) blamed the Mahayuti government and the police for its handling of the incident and the subsequent protest at Badlapur station, and announced his party will launch a state-wide agitation from Wednesday.
While Mahajan described certain protesters as "daily wage" workers, Danve called the agitation a “spontaneous manifestation of public outrage”.
