Badlapur school chose cover-up, says child rights chief; internet suspended, accused's custody extended to Aug 26

Thane: The Badlapur school, where two young girls were allegedly sexually abused, preferred to cover up the crime instead of helping their parents file a police complaint, said Susieben Shah, chairperson of Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, on Wednesday. The alleged crime by a male attendant created a volatile situation in the town of Thane district on Tuesday, with protesting parents and locals crippling rail services and clashing with police.

Shah stressed the urgency of the matter, saying that the alleged sexual abuse of the two kindergarten students is a clear case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act. After learning about the incident, the state child rights panel chief said, she contacted the Thane District Child Protection Unit about the parents’ concerns. “They (child protection unit) took them to the police to file the complaint. When I asked the school management about the case, they tried to cover it up. I even asked them why POCSO provisions should not be invoked against the school management,” said Shah.

She said if the school management had promptly alerted the police, the chaotic situation in Badlapur could have been avoided. “The issue arises from the parents being made to wait for 11 hours.” Despite being apprised of the alleged sexual attack, the principal “chose not to contact the police”. “Instead, she went to the school management,” Shah said, calling the episode a “terrible state of affairs”. Every district in the state has a child protection unit under the Women and Child Development Department. There is also a Special Juvenile Protection Unit in every police station, she said. “All the systems, units, and committees are in place. We all must make collective efforts to make the system work effectively,” she said.

Shah also said she would recommend a “structured procedure” for educational institutions to avoid such situations in the state in the future. “The state should implement such procedures and implement them strictly,” she said. Referring to an earlier episode of alleged molestation of students of a Thane school by a bus attendant, Shah recalled that she had then stressed the need for mandatory police verification of teaching, non-teaching and contractual staff in educational institutes. The alleged molestation had taken place on February 20 when students had gone to a mall in the Ghatkopar area of Mumbai on a private bus.

A massive protest broke out in Badlapur, Maharashtra, on Tuesday following the alleged sexual abuse of two kindergarten girls by a school attendant. The unrest led to violent clashes, prompting authorities to suspend internet services in the town. Most schools remained shut on Wednesday, and additional police forces were deployed to restore order.

The accused, arrested on August 17, allegedly abused the two girls in the school’s toilet. On Wednesday, a local court extended his police custody until August 26. The arrest and the perceived delay in police action sparked outrage among parents and local citizens, who blocked railway tracks and vandalized the school building. The school, owned by a relative of a BJP leader, saw extensive damage as protesters hurled stones and broke windows, gates, and benches.

At least 25 police personnel, including officers, were injured during the violence, which extended to the railway station and other parts of Badlapur. The police responded with a cane charge to disperse the crowd and clear the tracks for train movement. So far, 72 individuals have been arrested in connection with the violence, and investigations are ongoing, with authorities reviewing CCTV footage and video clips.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) led by senior IPS officer Arti Singh to probe the sexual abuse incident. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde assured that the case would be fast-tracked and those responsible would not be spared. Meanwhile, the school management suspended the principal, a class teacher, and a female attendant.

The state government has also suspended three police officials, including a senior inspector, for dereliction of duty in investigating the sexual abuse case. Senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, appointed as the special public prosecutor, condemned the delay in lodging the FIR and emphasized the importance of prompt police action in preserving crucial evidence. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, who have targeted the Mahayuti government over its handling of the situation.

As the situation in Badlapur gradually returns to normal, authorities continue to monitor developments closely. Internet services remain suspended, and the town is under tight police security to prevent further unrest.