Two four-year-old girls were sexually assaulted inside the washroom of a Maharashtra school this month — sparking widespread protests in the western state. The accused — a male attendant at the school in Thane district — was arrested last week and currently remains in custody. The Bombay High Court has directed the Special Investigation Team probing the case to file a report by August 27.
According to a preliminary report accessed by India Today, the kindergarteners — aged three and four — were abused repeatedly over a 15 day period and found with ruptured hymens. The two-member committee also flagged several gaps in the response from the school authorities — including a delay in reporting the incident and failing to conduct any background checks before hiring the accused.
The report notes that the school administration also failed to meet the parents even after the complaint was lodged. Additionally the hospital also took around 12 hours to provide medical care to the two children.
The accused (tagged in some reports as a habitual offender) was hired as a contractual worker without proper background checks. He was given unrestricted access to all parts of the school — including the somewhat remotely located female toilets — and did not carry an identity card.
The developments came even as the Bombay High Court restrained political parties and individuals from proceeding with the Maharashtra bandh scheduled for August 24 or on any future date. The judgment also called for the state government to take all necessary preventive steps. The police have been asked to take appropriate action against any individual or group involved in a 'bandh'.
“We have called off August 24 Maharashtra bandh but opposition leaders will protest with black bands around their mouth. We don’t agree with Bombay High Court order on bandh,” said Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.
Thousands of people had hit the streets and spilled onto railway tracks in Badlapur on Tuesday to protest the incident.
(With inputs from agencies)
