4 FIRs Registered, 72 held After Violent Protests
North News
New Delhi, August 21
In response to a large-scale protest in Badlapur, Maharashtra’s Thane district, over the alleged sexual abuse of two minor girls, the authorities have suspended internet services, and most schools remained closed on Wednesday, according to media reports. The protests turned violent on Tuesday, leading to incidents of stone-pelting at Badlapur railway station and other parts of the town. At least 17 city police officers and eight railway cops were injured in the clashes, and 72 people have been arrested in connection with the violence.
Officials have deployed additional police forces to restore order, and the situation is gradually returning to normal. The protest was sparked by the shocking crime against the minors, leading hundreds of enraged parents and locals to gather at the railway station around 8 am on Tuesday, blocking train movements in protest against the alleged sexual assault.
The parents, demanding strict action, have been staging the blockade since the morning. In response, the school management in Badlapur has suspended the principal and two staff members in connection with the incident, as reported by the Hindustan Times. The protest has severely disrupted train services on both up and down routes since 8 am. The Thane Police arrested a school attendant on August 17, accused of abusing the two young girls, aged three and four years, according to news reports.
