A protest against the alleged sexual abuse of two girls at a school in Badlapur, Maharashtra, escalated into violence on Tuesday. Angry protesters vandalized the school and hurled stones at the local railway station during a ‘rail blockade,’ police reported. The protest was in response to the alleged abuse of two kindergarten students by a male attendant at the school, who was arrested last week.

The situation intensified when parents and local residents, including many women, gathered outside the school in the morning. Their anger led to a ‘rail roko’ protest at Badlapur railway station, where they blocked suburban trains from around 8:30 a.m., demanding justice for the victims and severe punishment for the accused. The disruption affected numerous commuters, causing significant delays and inconveniences.

As tensions rose, some protesters broke into the school, smashing gates, windows, benches, and doors. At the railway station, police and authorities attempted to negotiate with the protesters to end the blockade, but their efforts were initially unsuccessful. The protest turned more chaotic when some agitators began throwing stones, further heightening the tension.

Government Railway Police Commissioner Ravindra Shisve arrived at the scene to help bring the situation under control. Despite the aggressive actions of some protesters, police managed to eventually calm the situation, and efforts were ongoing to disperse the crowd and restore normalcy. The incident has sparked widespread concern and calls for swift justice, as the community grapples with the aftermath of the shocking abuse allegations.

Source: PTI

Also read: Pradhan slams Bengal’s ‘insensitive’ response to doctor’s murder