Badlapur sexual assault: Cops weren’t ready for this

A peaceful march organised by the parents of the victims outside the school premises quickly escalated bringing the city to a standstill on Tuesday The police had not anticipated that the gathering would grow so rapidly and become so aggressive Initially protesters demanded a meeting with the school committee to discuss the action taken However tensions rose when they entered the school and vandalised property The authorities responded with a lathi charge and ordered the protesters to leave The crowd which had initially numbered in the hundreds swelled to thousands blocking major roads and railways and vandalising public propertyProtesters demanding capital punishment PicsNavneet BarhateHow it all beganThe case of the sexual assault on two girls was registered on August 16 at Badlapur East police station Parents and local groups demanded strict action calling for a fasttracked case and capital punishment for the accused A message about a lsquoBadlapur Bandrsquo protest went viral mainly led by women seeking justice A female protester said ldquoInitially the school authorities were irresponsible delaying action They eventually suspended the principal teacher and staff but we wanted them held legally accountable Various associations decided to call for a lsquoBadlapur Bandrsquo and organise a peaceful protest at the schoolrdquoCops speak with people blocking railway tracks PicPTIViral messageFollowing the viral lsquoBadlapur Bandrsquo message the Thane police intervened and began engaging with the community to address the protestersrsquo demands Deputy Commissioner of Police Sudhakar Pathare explained that while a case was registered promptly the investigation involving minors took time ldquoAs the incident includes two minors taking statements and verifying the facts took time and accordingly the case was registered And the same night within 3 hours the accused was arrested and produced in court He was remanded in police custodyrdquo he said Pathare warned protesters not to take the law into their own handsTuesday morningTraffic was halted and the flyover was blocked by protesters They initially gathered outside the school to request a meeting with the school committee but were met with resistance By 1030 am they blocked the road and burned tyres on the flyover severely affecting trafficA tyre burnt by the protestersStone throwingIn the afternoon protesters frustrated by the lack of answers broke into the school and vandalised property The police responded with a lathi charge and tear gas dispersing the crowd The protests spread leading to disruptions on railway tracks and impacting central and local train services Despite efforts by senior police officers to negotiate the situation escalated with protesters throwing stones at the police The protestors were cleared by 6 pmChief ministerrsquos ordersChief Minister Eknath Shinde has ordered a fasttrack process for the case and an investigation into the schoolrsquos managementPolitical reactionPeoplersquos representatives largely stayed away from the protests which were led by ordinary citizens Attempts by representatives to address the protesters were met with hostility leading to a withdrawal from the protestProtesters barge into the schoolSafe Bahin YojanaProtesters holding placards demanded the implementation of a Safe Bahin Yojana for womenrsquos safety rather than the existing Ladki Bahin schemeImpact on daily lifeThe protests caused significant disruptions affecting train services and causing businesses and offices to close Patients and employees faced difficulties due to the breakdown in law and orderPolice case and actionThe Badlapur East police have filed a case under sections 652 74 75 and 76 of the Bharatiya Nayaya Sanhita 2023 and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act 2012 Action has been taken against the senior police inspector assistant police inspector and constable for delaying the FIRAugust 16Day case was registered1030 amTime when the roads in Badlapur were blocked