Two kindergarten girls, aged three and four, were allegedly sexually abused by a school attendant in Badlapur, located in Maharashtra’s Thane district, leading to widespread protests and unrest in the area. The incident, which took place on August 13, was brought to light after one of the girls informed her parents. The accused was arrested on August 17, following an investigation by the authorities.

The girls were reportedly assaulted in the school toilet, and the horrific details emerged when one of the girls refused to attend school on August 16. Upon questioning, the child revealed the abuse, which led her parents to seek medical attention. Hospital tests confirmed injuries to the child's private parts. The girl disclosed that a "dada" (meaning brother in Marathi) had removed her clothes and touched her inappropriately.

The police registered an FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, as well as several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deal with crimes of sexual assault and harassment. However, the FIR was reportedly filed 12 hours after the parents initially lodged their complaint, sparking criticism from the community.

The school has faced severe backlash, including accusations of negligence after it was discovered that the CCTV cameras were not functioning and that the school did not employ an all-women staff to oversee the young children. In response to the growing outrage, the school management suspended the principal, a class teacher, and a female attendant.

Furious parents and locals took to the streets in protest, staging a 'rail roko' demonstration at Badlapur railway station, disrupting train services. The protest quickly escalated, with some participants vandalizing the school and pelting stones at the railway station. The police had to resort to lathi charge to disperse the crowd.

In the wake of the protests, three police officials, including a senior inspector, were suspended for allegedly mishandling the case. The local police station in-charge was transferred for not responding promptly to the parents' complaints. Authorities have ordered two separate investigations—one by the education department and another by the police—to examine the delay in filing the case.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has also intervened, announcing that it would send a team to Thane to investigate the incident. NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanungo criticized both the school and the police for their handling of the situation, promising that those responsible for delaying the case would be held accountable.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Inspector General of Police Aarti Singh has been formed to conduct a thorough investigation. Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured the public that the government would take strict action against those responsible.

Political reactions to the incident have further fueled tensions. Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray condemned the attack and urged for swift justice. He also pointed out that the school was linked to a BJP member, though he emphasized that his comments were not intended to politicize the issue.

As the investigation continues, the community in Badlapur remains shaken by the events, and calls for justice continue to grow louder.