Thane: The Bombay High Court has initiated suo motu proceedings into the alleged sexual assault of two four-year-old girls at a school in Badlapur in Thane district of Maharashtra. The Division Bench, comprising Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan, will hear the case today (Thursday).
A male attendant, Akshay Shinde, had been accused of assaulting the kids in a school’s toilet. The incident had sparked a massive unrest and thousands of protestors had blocked railway tracks at Badlapur station on Tuesday, causing disruption of train services.
Tension escalated after a mob of local residents on Wednesday vandalised Shinde’s house. The agitated mob of around 50-100 people even attacked his family members, reports claimed. The internet services at Badlapur were also suspended on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a local court had extended Shinde’s police custody till August 26.
Taking to social media, Maharashtra DGP Rashmi Shukla affirmed the police force’s commitment to ensure the safety of all citizens.
He stated that the investigation into the case was being conducted with the ‘utmost diligence.’ “We will leave no stone unturned in delivering justice to innocent children and their families,” Shukla wrote on his X handle.
Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)—a coalition of NCP (SCP), Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress— has called for a Maharashtra Bandh on August 24 to protest against the crime.
Maharashtra government’s directives for schools: CCTVs, complaint boxes must
In the wake of the Badlapur incident, the Maharashtra government issued a set of directives to all the schools in the state. According to the directives, it is now mandatory for schools in the state to install CCTV cameras and complaint boxes on their premises within a month’s time.
‘Failure to comply may result in actions such as withholding financial grants or revocation of the school’s operating permit,’ the order stated, as reported by News 18.
The schools have also been asked to periodically check the footage and if anything, objectionable is found, the headmaster and school management will have to take further action, the order mentioned.
Verify employee details with the help of cops: Schools told
The school education department of the state has also directed school managements to conduct thorough background checks of all employees with the help of the local police station. Schools have been asked to provide the local police station the details and photographs of their employees.
The department has also made it compulsory for schools to appoint women employees on a priority basis for students up to six years.
