Local train services were halted at Central Railway Station due to protests over a distressing incident involving a young girl at a school in Badlapur. According to the Central Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), the protests were triggered by allegations of sexual assault.
The incident reportedly occurred between August 12 and 13 at a well-known co-educational school in Badlapur. Akshay Shinde, a 23-year-old cleaning staff member who had been employed on a contractual basis since August 1, is accused of sexually assaulting two four-year-old girls. Shinde allegedly exploited his position to commit the assaults in the girls’ toilet, which notably lacked female staff.
The troubling situation came to light when one of the victims complained to her parents about pain in her private parts after returning home from school. Upon further questioning, she disclosed that Shinde had touched her inappropriately when she went to use the toilet. Concerned, the parents reached out to the parents of another girl from the same class, who revealed that their daughter had also been fearful of attending school recently. Both girls were subsequently examined by a local doctor, who confirmed they had been sexually assaulted.
In response, the parents sought help from social activists and hurried to Badlapur East Police Station to file a complaint. However, the process was reportedly delayed by senior police inspector Shubhada Shitole despite the case falling under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The case was eventually registered late on Friday night, leading to Shinde’s arrest. The delay and handling of the case have added to the community’s outrage, contributing to the ongoing protests and disruption of train services.
