NEW DELHI: A court in Thane's Badlapur town has extended the custody of a man accused of sexually abusing two nursery students at a private school until August 26. The incident sparked widespread outrage, leading to massive protests by locals and parents on Tuesday. In response to the unrest and acts of vandalism, authorities suspended internet services in the town, and most schools remained closed on Wednesday.
The protests brought Badlapur to a near standstill as thousands of demonstrators blocked railway tracks and stormed the school building, following allegations that a school sweeper allegedly sexually abused two young girls in the washroom last week. The accused was arrested by police on August 17. In the wake of the incident, the school management suspended the principal, a class teacher, and a woman attendant.
The state government, responding to public outcry, suspended three police officials, including a senior police inspector, for alleged negligence. On Tuesday morning, angry parents and locals, including many women, gathered outside the school and staged a 'rail roko' protest at the railway station, halting local train services from around 8.30am.
Some protesters also vandalised the school, breaking gates, windows, benches, and doors. Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the formation of a special investigation team led by senior IPS officer Arti Singh, while chief minister Eknath Shinde vowed that the case would be fast-tracked and those.