Protests Erupt in Maharashtra Over Alleged Sexual Assault of Children at Nursery School

Hundreds of protesters have gathered at a railway station in Badlapur, Maharashtra, to protest the alleged sexual assault of two young girls at their nursery school. The girls were reportedly abused last week while using the toilet at the school in Thane district.
The protestors, demanding justice for the children, have blocked train services at Badlapur railway station, with some demonstrators also reportedly throwing stones at the police. The situation escalated as videos circulated on social media, showing large crowds clashing at the railway platform.
In response to the protests, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to expedite the investigation into the allegations. Shinde assured that action would be taken against the school if wrongdoing is confirmed.
The school’s management is under scrutiny following claims of safety lapses, including non-functional CCTV cameras. The parents of the affected children have criticized the school’s handling of the case, alleging a delay in action and an attempt to suppress the incident.
Priyank Kanungo, chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, criticized the school’s response as “insensitive” and claimed that the local police station failed to promptly register an FIR (First Information Report). The police and the school have yet to officially address these allegations, but the school has suspended the principal, a class teacher, and a female employee in connection with the incident.
This protest follows a wave of national outrage in India over a separate incident involving the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in West Bengal. The body of the 31-year-old woman was discovered earlier this month in a seminar room at a state-run hospital in Kolkata, intensifying the public’s demand for justice in cases of sexual violence.