Child Sexual Abuse in India > Major protest (72 arrests) needed to get police action on sex assault of two 4y/o girls; Gov't acts in Maharashtra schools; Man sexually abuses 15 y/o stepdaughter

 

Bombay high court slams Badlapur police,

says you took action only after public outcry

The Bombay high court has taken suo motu cognisance of the alleged sexual assault of two four-year-old girls at a school in Badlapur town of Maharashtra's Thane district. A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan will take up the matter for hearing on Thursday. 

The alleged sexual assault of the two kindergarten students by a male attendant had sparked a massive protest in Badlapur on Tuesday. The authorities on Wednesday suspended internet services in the town. Police said they have arrested 72 persons in connection with the violence during the stir. 

The male attendant, who was arrested on August 17, allegedly assaulted the kids in the school's toilet. A local court on Wednesday extended his police custody till August 26. 

Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde had on Wednesday claimed that the protest at Badlapur was politically motivated and aimed at maligning the state government. He also said that the majority of protesters were outsiders. 

Angry parents of the school children and locals staged a massive protest at Badlapur railway station on Tuesday after two girls were allegedly sexually abused by an attendant hired by the school authorities. Hundreds of irate parents and local citizens blocked the path of trains to draw the administration's attention to their demands. The protest has affected the movement of trains on Up and Down routes since around 8am. 

On August 17, the police arrested the school attendant at the school for allegedly abusing two girls studying in the kindergarten, aged three and four years. As per the complaint, he abused the girls in the toilet of the school. 

Taking note of the incident, CM Eknath Shinde said he has directed the police that the accused be booked under the attempt to rape charge. He also said that the case will be fast-tracked and a special public prosecutor will be appointed for the case. 

Meanwhile Shinde's deputy Devendra Fadnavis said that a special investigation team (SIT) headed by inspector general Aarti Singh will probe the incident. 

CCTVs mandatory in Maharashtra schools

after Badlapur child sexual abuse

By

 Ahana Bhattacharya

 -

 August 22, 2024

Badlapur Railway Station witnessed violent protests on Tuesday against the alleged sexual harassment of two girl children inside a school. ANI Photo

After the horrific incident of alleged sexual abuse of two school children in Badlapur in Thane district near Mumbai, the Maharashtra government on Wednesday directed all schools within the state to install CCTV cameras and complaint boxes on their premises within a month. If any school fails to comply with the order, strict actions will be taken and even its permission to operate may be revoked, as per an order issued by Maharashtra School Education Department.

“All private schools in the state are required to comply with new guidelines from the department, mandating the installation of CCTV cameras at appropriate locations within school premises. Failure to comply may result in actions such as withholding financial grants or revocation of the school’s operating permit,” states the order.

What Maharashtra schools will have to do

As per the order, the CCTV footage should be examined at least three times a week, and if anything unobjectionable is found, it will be the responsibility of the principal and school management to take further action.

Not only this, the school managements will have to conduct thorough background checks of all employees with the assistance of the local police station. Also, schools must submit details and photographs of all their employees to the local police, which will be verified by the police, as per the order.

Cabinet Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha who is also the Guardian Minister for Mumbai suburban district, has written a letter to the District Collector, requesting deployment of female staff at girls’ washrooms in schools. “The entire school premises, except for washrooms, should be brought under the surveillance of CCTV cameras….their safety and proper functioning should be regularly checked by beat marshals or patrolling police teams,” the minister said.

The state government is also planning to impart self-defence training to schools and college students within the Mumbai Suburban region and young women at all Industrial Training Institutes across Maharashtra.

Wow! Somebody woke up the Maharashtra government. Thank God!

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