Parents protest at railway station in western India over sexual abuse of schoolgirls, train services disrupted
by Aditi VermaHundreds of outraged parents and locals staged a protest at a railway station in western India’s Maharastra, halting local train services in response to the alleged sexual abuse of two young girls at a school. The school’s principal and two staff members have been suspended as authorities launch an investigation into the incident.
The incident took place at Badlapur railway station in Thane district on August 20.
Visuals showed a large crowd of protesters filling both the tracks and platform of a busy railway station, driven by anger and frustration. The atmosphere was tense, with shouts and slogans echoing through the air. People, visibly upset, blocked the path of incoming trains, bringing the station to a standstill. Some of the more agitated individuals hurled stones, adding to the chaos. The scene was one of intense unrest, with the crowd expressing their outrage over the recent rape of two young girls, creating a sense of urgency and turmoil throughout the station.
In a major demonstration of public outrage, hundreds of parents and local residents took to the tracks at Badlapur railway station in Thane district on Tuesday morning, bringing local train services to a standstill. The protest erupted after news broke of the alleged sexual abuse of two kindergarten girls, aged three and four, at a local school.
The incident, which occurred on August 17, led to the arrest of a school attendant by the Thane Police, following a complaint by the parents. The management of the school responded by suspending the principal and two other staff members pending further investigation.
As the protest continued into the day, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde addressed the situation, stating that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been formed to expedite the case. “We will take stringent action against the school and ensure that no one involved in this heinous act is spared,” Shinde said. The chief minister also assured that the case would be fast-tracked to deliver swift justice.
The blockade at the railway station has significantly impacted train operations on both Up and Down routes, causing widespread disruption for commuters. Local authorities are working to manage the situation and restore normalcy as soon as possible.
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