Two 4-Year-Old Girls Sexually Assaulted in Thane, India, Parents Made To Wait 11 Hours In Police Station, Protests Errupts

In a shocking incident that has sparked widespread outrage, the city of Thane in Maharashtra witnessed a massive protest following the alleged sexual assault of two four-year-old girls at an English medium school. The demonstration, which began at Badlapur railway station, escalated rapidly, leading to a tense standoff between the police and protesters.

The protest, which saw thousands of angry citizens pouring into the station, lasted for over six hours. The demonstrators, many of whom were parents and concerned locals, expressed their fury over the incident by blocking the movement of trains and shouting slogans demanding justice. The situation turned chaotic when the police intervened, resorting to batons and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Protesters, some of whom were seated on the railway tracks, scattered as the police cracked down, with many fleeing in panic as the station turned into a virtual battleground.

The situation escalated further when some protesters retaliated by hurling stones at the police, turning the area into a war zone. However, the police managed to regain control, chasing the protesters away and restoring order at the station.

The protest was fueled by growing anger and frustration as more details of the assault emerged. According to reports, the two young girls were assaulted in the school’s girls’ toilet on August 16 by a 23-year-old cleaner employed by the institution. The accused has since been arrested, and the school’s administration has taken swift action by suspending the principal and dismissing the class teacher and nanny involved.

What has further incensed the public is the allegation that the parents of the victims were made to wait for 11 hours at the local police station before an official complaint, or First Information Report (FIR), was filed. This delay has sparked outrage, with many accusing the police of gross insensitivity. The Maharashtra government has since suspended three police personnel involved in the incident.

The case has drawn comparisons to the recent rape and murder of a young doctor in Kolkata, which had already ignited anger across the country. The Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, described the Thane incident as “bigger” than the Kolkata case due to the young age of the victims. He expressed his outrage, stating, “Atrocities are committed on a three-and-a-half-year-old girl, a four-year-old girl, and at the police station, they (parents) are made to wait for 11 hours when they seek to file a complaint… Is there any sensitivity left?”

The public’s frustration has been further exacerbated by the alleged lapses in school safety. Investigations have revealed that the school did not have female attendants in the girls’ toilets, a basic safety requirement. Additionally, many of the school’s CCTV cameras were found to be non-functional, raising serious concerns about the school’s commitment to the safety of its students.

In response to the growing public outcry, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the case. The SIT will be led by a female IPS officer, and the police have been directed to submit a proposal for a fast-track court to expedite the trial.

As the investigation continues, the people of Thane and surrounding areas remain on edge, demanding swift and severe punishment for those responsible. The incident has once again highlighted the urgent need for stronger safeguards in schools and greater accountability from law enforcement agencies.