Sexual molestation at Badlapur School: What one of Thane’s two girls told her parents

Badlapur School Sexual Abuse Case: Dozens of demonstrators blocked train lines at Badlapur railway station in Maharashtra’s Thane district, protesting an alleged case of sexual assault on two four-year-old kids by a sweeper in a school restroom. This resulted in the diversion of some long-distance trains as well as disruption of local rail services due to massive protests.

The police resorted to lathicharge at the Badlapur train station after about nine hours to end the demonstrations.

On August 12th and 13th, two four-year old girls enrolled for pre primary sections at a popular co-ed school located in Badlapur alleged that their male janitor aged 23 named Akshay Shinde had sexually molested them. The attack occurred inside the toilets meant for girls allegedly under female workers’ supervision. The defendant was working on contract from 1st August, 2024 according to his record available before us. A girl who had previously said nothing about what she was going through, because she didn’t even understand it herself, suddenly felt pain one day and told her parents about it – then everything became public knowledge; and it turned out that there was another girl involved too whose parents were also not aware until someone reported the matter late on August 16; thereafter, this person was taken into custody.

According to media report based on FIR mentioned above, the incident took place between 9a.m. and noon on August 13th. On August 13th itself though, when they had received news that some members of another child’s family were considering lodging rape cases against them; accusing them falsely; one set of parents began having doubts. The complaint further stated that this child appeared scared while telling her parents how an older male student at her school whom she referred to as “dada” (elder brother) undressed her and sexually touched her.

The family approached the police on August 16, but filed an FIR only around 9:00 p.m. that day, almost 12 hours later, as per the media report. The boy molested her as per FIR.

Parents and demonstrators obstruct the Badlapur train station.

In addition to a small protest staged by some of the girls’ parents in front of the school early this morning with other developments, a large crowd eventually gathered between 9:30-10am when people got angry that there were not enough policemen present; and Sangita Chedvankar who is said to be MNS leader fled immediately following this incident while Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Kisan Kathore watched mob become uncontrollable. The school suspended its principal and three staff members following increased demonstrations while some called for capital punishment for Shinde, a school sweeper.

However, GRP Commissioner Ravindra Shisve tried to pacify them by assuring them that severe action would be taken against those responsible for these actions whereas Thane Police resorted to using excessive force to contain them. But people never gave up; they still blocked trains day after day. Despite tear gas usage by police finally charging batons at mobs coming out from all directions including some students throwing stones covered in anger towards them after the protests began outside schools and railway stations in Thane district., it didn’t appease their angst.

Thane protest: thirty local trains partly canceled, twelve trains diverted

As a result of protests which broke out at Badlapur railway station within Thane region affecting rail services twelve mail express trains were diverted and thirty local trains had partial cancellations. “During this period about 12 mail express trains have been diverted, koyna has been re-routed back from near badlapur via kalyan then via diva and panvel towards karjat,” reported CPRO Central Railway.

Almost thirty local trains between Ambernath and Karjat Khopoli have been partially cancelled. Probably, this figure will increase tremendously when it is peak hour.”

On the other hand, he said that “the services are running normal from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) to Ambernath and towards Kasara.”