Badlapur Sexual Abuse: Shiv Sena Leader Detained After Leading Protest in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

CHHATRAPATHI SAMBHAJINAGAR: Maharashtra Legislative Council Leader of Opposition, Ambadas Danve, was detained on Sunday for protesting outside Chikalthana Airport in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. His demonstration was in response to the recent horrific incident in Badlapur, where two young girls were sexually assaulted.

Danve Detained Amid Airport Protests

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to arrive at the airport before heading to a program in neighboring Jalgaon. The security measures in place for the Prime Minister’s visit were significant, yet Danve and his supporters persisted in their protest, highlighting their dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the Badlapur case.

"Police are using force here. Are we terrorists that force is being used against us?" Danve said, speaking to the media outside the airport. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader expressed his frustration over the police's delayed response in the Badlapur incident, he said, "Nobody does anything when the offence is not registered in Badlapur for 12 hours."

Despite the heightened security, Danve mentioned, "We also care for his security. We respect him as he is the head of our nation. Let the police do their work, we will do ours." Following his comments, Danve, along with other protesters, was detained and taken to the MIDC Cidco police station.

The protests have been part of a larger outcry led by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), a coalition that includes the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), and Congress. The MVA has mobilized demonstrations across Maharashtra, condemning the government's perceived inaction in the face of the shocking incident in Badlapur. The alleged sexual assault of two minor girls has triggered widespread demands for justice and stricter measures against crimes targeting women.

Protesters across the state, including Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, wore black armbands as a symbol of mourning and solidarity with the victims. Thackeray, who joined the protests at Sena Bhavan, criticized the state government, saying, "It is a pity that instead of taking action against culprits involved in crimes against women, the Maharashtra government was standing with them."

Despite the Bombay High Court's order on Friday restraining political parties from proceeding with the planned Maharashtra bandh on August 24, the MVA continued their demonstrations. Thackeray urged his party members to initiate a signature campaign under the slogan "Bahin Surakshit tar Ghar Surakshit" (home is safe if sisters are secure), which would be presented to the High Court. He said, "The court stopped our bandh, but cannot suppress our voice."

Badlapur Incident Sparks Public Outrage

The outrage stems from the brutal sexual abuse of two young girls, aged three and four, at a kindergarten in Badlapur. The perpetrator, identified as 23-year-old Akshay Shinde, was a male attendant employed on a contractual basis by the school. The abuse occurred in the school's restroom, where the girls were left unattended due to the lack of female staff. The crime came to light when one of the girls reported pain and disclosed that the attendant had touched her inappropriately. Her revelation prompted the parents of the other girl to discover that their daughter was similarly traumatized. Medical examinations confirmed the assault on both children.

The incident led to an outpouring of anger in Badlapur. On Tuesday, enraged parents and locals stormed the school, vandalizing its premises in protest. The unrest escalated as protesters blocked the railway tracks at Badlapur station, with some resorting to stone-throwing. Authorities eventually brought the situation under control.

In response to the public outcry, the government has established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to thoroughly investigate the case.