Internet services were restored in Badlapur, a town in Maharashtra's Thane district, after being suspended amid growing tensions following the sexual assault of two young girls. The victims, aged three and four, were reportedly attacked by a school sweeper in a kindergarten. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) announced it would send a team to investigate the matter.

The sexual assault, which took place on August 13, came to light when one of the victims disclosed the ordeal to her parents on August 16. Police quickly apprehended the accused, Akshay Shinde, on August 17. He had been working at the school as a cleaner on a contractual basis since August 1.

Anger in the town escalated after news of the crime spread. On Tuesday, thousands of protesters gathered at Badlapur railway station, leading to a massive disruption of rail services. Demonstrators staged a "rail roko" protest, which halted train services on the Ambernath-Karjat line for over 10 hours. The protest led to the diversion of 12 express and mail trains, partial cancellation of 30 local trains, and disruption to several long-distance services.

As tensions rose, the protest turned violent. Furious locals threw stones at the school where the assaults took place and vandalized the premises. A bus near the railway station was also damaged. Police were eventually forced to use lathicharge tactics to disperse the crowd and clear the rail tracks after nine hours of unrest.

Parents of the victims expressed their frustration, alleging that the police took 12 hours to file an FIR after they reported the incident. They also highlighted the fact that CCTV cameras in the school were not operational, further compounding concerns about the safety and security of students. A local doctor confirmed injuries to one of the girls, adding to the parents' anguish.

Criticism was also directed at the school's management for failing to assign a female staff member to clean the girls' restroom, a common practice in many schools that could have potentially prevented the assault. The school responded by suspending the principal, a class teacher, and a female attendant. However, the community's anger remained palpable.

Political leaders soon weighed in on the incident. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded that the case be fast-tracked to ensure swift justice for the victims. He also accused the school of having ties to BJP leaders and suggested that political motives were influencing the handling of the case.

In response to the growing public outcry, the Maharashtra government ordered the suspension of three police officers, including a senior inspector, for their alleged mishandling of the case. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was also formed to further probe the matter. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed the Thane Police Commissioner to fast-track the case and move it to a special court. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde assured the public that the guilty parties would not be spared and that action would be taken against the school.

Priyank Kanungo, Chairperson of the NCPCR, criticized both the school and the police for their negligence. He claimed that the school attempted to suppress the incident and that the police station had delayed registering the FIR. He vowed that strict action would be taken against those responsible for trying to cover up the crime.

The situation remains tense in Badlapur, with many demanding accountability and justice for the victims.