In the deeply troubling case of sexual abuse involving two kindergarten girls in Maharashtra's Badlapur, a family member of one of the victims has come forward with serious allegations against both the school authorities and the local police, accusing them of negligence, harassment, and attempting to cover up the crime. The allegations paint a distressing picture of how the case has been handled, raising significant concerns about the response of those responsible for the welfare and protection of children.
The incident, which occurred on August 12-13, involved the sexual abuse of two very young girls, aged three and four, by a school cleaning staff member. The family of one of the victims took her to a private hospital for a medical examination, which confirmed injuries consistent with sexual assault. However, when they presented these medical findings to the school on August 16, they were met with dismissiveness. The school principal reportedly downplayed the medical evidence, suggesting instead that the injuries might have been caused by the child riding a bicycle. This response has sparked outrage, as it not only trivializes the severity of the assault but also fails to acknowledge the clear evidence provided by the medical report.
The family member’s account of their ordeal at the police station adds another layer of distress to the case. According to the family, when they went to file a report with the police, their complaints were initially ignored. It was only after a 12-hour wait and the intervention of local Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leaders that the First Information Report (FIR) was finally registered. Even then, the family alleges that the police made unauthorized changes to their statement in the FIR, further undermining their trust in the justice system.
The accused, identified as Akshay Shinde, was arrested on August 17, but this action came too late to prevent the escalation of public anger. The family also reported that the child and her parents faced significant delays and mistreatment at the hands of both the hospital staff and the police. For example, despite a scheduled medical test at a government hospital at 9 am on August 17, the police did not arrive until nearly three hours later, leaving the family, including the pregnant mother, waiting in distress.
The family's ordeal has had severe consequences on their health and well-being. The young girl is now traumatized, refusing to meet anyone, while her pregnant mother has become extremely unwell due to the stress and physical strain of dealing with the situation. The father, overwhelmed by the relentless police inquiries and the emotional toll of the incident, is bedridden. The entire family is struggling with the combined pressures of the ongoing investigation, public scrutiny, and the fear of retribution.
Further complicating the situation, the family member claimed that they discovered a previous incident of sexual abuse at the same school, allegedly committed by a male teacher against a Class 8 student. This information has intensified the family’s concerns about the safety and security measures at the school, particularly the lack of female staff to supervise the children, which may have contributed to the perpetration of these heinous acts.
The family has also accused a female police officer of colluding with the school management to cover up the incident. According to the family member, the officer held a secret meeting with the school officials and subsequently dismissed the family’s allegations, despite the medical evidence supporting their claims. The officer reportedly denied that any such incident had occurred and warned the family against spreading what she described as a "false story."
The mishandling of the case by the police and the perceived attempts to suppress the family's grievances led to a massive public outcry in Badlapur on August 20. The situation escalated into a day-long protest, with angry locals vandalizing the school and disrupting train services at the Badlapur railway station. The family member stated that they were warned by senior police officers not to participate in the protest, with threats of severe legal consequences, including being charged with instigating the unrest. Despite this, the family refused to disavow the protest, asserting their right to seek justice for their child.
The girl’s family is now demanding capital punishment for the accused, arguing that such a severe penalty is necessary to deter future crimes against children. They are also calling for disciplinary action against the school principal and teacher, whom they believe failed in their duty to protect the students and respond appropriately to the situation.
The gravity of the case has also caught the attention of the judiciary. On Thursday, the Bombay High Court took cognizance of the sexual abuse incident and reprimanded the local police, noting that they only acted after the public outcry. The court's intervention may bring some much-needed scrutiny and accountability to the handling of the case, but for the affected families, the road to justice remains fraught with challenges.
This case highlights the urgent need for better protection mechanisms for children in schools, as well as more robust and sensitive responses from law enforcement agencies when such incidents occur. The family's harrowing experience underscores the importance of ensuring that victims and their families are treated with dignity, empathy, and fairness and that those responsible for safeguarding children are held to the highest standards of accountability.
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