Badlapur school sexual abuse case: The Maharashtra government on Tuesday suspended three police officials, including a senior police inspector, for alleged negligence of duty in investigating the sexual abuse of two girls at a school in Badlapur. The suspension comes in the wake of massive public protests demanding accountability and swift action in the case. "The orders of immediate suspension of the senior police inspector, assistant sub-inspector and head constable attached to Badlapur police station for the dereliction of duty have been issued," Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis posted on X.
Maharashtra govt orders to form SIT
In response to the reported sexual abuse of two female students, the state government has taken decisive action by ordering the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to thoroughly investigate the case. Earlier on Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed the Thane Police Commissioner to develop a proposal to expedite the trial of this case through a fast-track court.
Meanwhile, the Opposition parties have criticised the handling of the case, alleging that the parents of the victim girls were subjected to an unreasonable delay. According to their claims, the parents were forced to wait for 11 hours at the Badlapur police station before their complaints were formally registered.
Schools to form 'Vishakha committees'
Meanwhile, Maharashtra School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar on Tuesday said "Vishakha committees" will be formed in schools. Schools will face action if CCTV cameras installed on their premises are found to be non-functional, he told reporters here. Formation of internal committees to deal with complaints of workplace sexual harassment is mandatory as per the Supreme Court's guidelines in the landmark `Vishakha' judgement.
"Vishakha committees will be formed at the school level," Kesarkar said, adding that they will provide a platform for raising grievances to girl students, especially those in standards 9th, 10th and junior college. There was already a government resolution mandating that schools should have CCTV cameras, but at the school in Badlapur where two girls were allegedly abused the CCTV cameras were not functional, the minister noted.
Protest against Badlapur incident
Earlier, a massive protest was held at Badlapur Railway Station on Tuesday in response to the alleged sexual assault of two minor girls at a school in Badlapur. Protesters also pelted stones at police during the protest. Heavy security has been deployed to control the crowd protesting against the incident.
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