Mumbai News: Protests Erupt at Badlapur Railway Station Over Sexual Assault of Kids
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thhackeray made a strong statement on Tuesday at the Badlapur Railway station in Thane district, invoking the Shakti Bill in response to the recent sexual assault of two kindergarten kids by a male attendant at their school.
Thackeray expressed his distress over the incident, emphasizing that such atrocities should not happen anywhere in the country. He also mentioned that the Maha Vikas Aghadi government was on the verge of passing the ‘Shakti Bill,’ a bill aimed at stricter penalties for sexual offenses, before it was ousted by rebel leader and current Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Calling on those in power to take immediate action, Thackeray stated, “It is the responsibility of those who toppled our government to pass the Shakti Bill and ensure justice is served.”
Understanding the Shakti Bill
In 2023, the Maharashtra Assembly passed the Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Act, introducing harsher penalties for rape and gangrape cases. This move positioned Maharashtra as the second Indian state, after Andhra Pradesh, to approve the death penalty for severe sexual offenses.
The Shakti Bill brought crucial changes to existing laws on rape, gangrape, acid attacks, sexual harassment under the Indian Penal Code, as well as provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Badlapur News: Kindergarten Students Targeted in Sexual Assault
Recent reports from Badlapur reveal a disturbing incident where two young girls studying in kindergarten were subjected to sexual assault by a male attendant at their school. The parents of the victims filed a police complaint following the children’s disclosure of the traumatic events.
In response to the incident, the Maharashtra Police acted swiftly and apprehended the accused. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde instructed the police to levy charges of attempt to rape against the perpetrator and suspended three individuals, including the school principal.
Uddhav Thackeray highlighted on Tuesday that the school in question is reportedly affiliated with the BJP party, stating, “Whoever is at fault, whether affiliated with BJP or not, must face strict consequences.”
Outraged parents and concerned citizens, including women, staged a ‘rail roko’ protest at Badlapur railway station, demanding justice and accountability for the incident. The protesters’ frustrations escalated, resulting in damage to the school’s property by breaking windows, benches, and doors.
