10 outstation trains diverted, as protests against sexual abuse of 2 minor girls in Thane continues

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday, demanded a fast-track trial and speedy justice in the case of sexual abuse of two girls at a school in Thane district. Talking to reporters, Thackeray said on one hand, the government is running the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin scheme for women, but daughters of sisters are not safe.

In an apparent reference to the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata, where the Mamata Banerjee-led government has come under fire, the Sena (UBT) chief said politics was being done over crime against women by targeting certain states. The former chief minister claimed the school where the girls were allegedly sexually abused was linked to BJP leaders.

"The case should be fast-tracked, and the victims should be ensured speedy justice," he said. Notably, police on August 17 arrested an attendant at the school for allegedly sexually abusing two girl students of the kindergarten, aged three and four years. As per the complaint, he abused the girls in the toilet of the school.

The school management suspended the principal, a class teacher, and a female attendant over the incident. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde directed the police to invoke the attempt to rape charge against the arrested accused. He said the case will be fast-tracked, and a special public prosecutor will be appointed.

The incident fuelled massive protests by parents who came on tracks at Badlapur station, and blocked local trains on Tuesday. The protest has affected the movement of suburban trains in Mumbai. The rail roko protest at Badlapur station in Maharashtra's Thane district on Tuesday, over the alleged sexual abuse of two girl students of a kindergarten led to the diversion of 10 long-distance trains via alternate routes, the Central Railway said.

As protesters, including several women, came on railway tracks and blocked traffic, local train services between Ambernath and Karjat stations were suspended from 10:10 AM. The protest turned violent as agitators vandalised the school, where the alleged incident occurred last week, and also indulged in stone-pelting at the Badlapur railway station, police said.

At least 10 mail-express trains, including Solapur-CSMT Vande Bharat Express, were diverted via Karjat-Panvel-Thane stations, said Swapnil Nila, chief public relations officer (CRPO) of Central Railway.

He said local trains between CSMT and Ambarnath stations are running normally; services between Badlapur and Karjat remain suspended. In view of the protest, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) deployed additional personnel at stations on the Kalyan-Karjat section of Central Railway, Nila said.

Senior Divisional Security Manager along with 60 jawans and 10 officials of RPF, are closely monitoring the situation at Badlapur station with the Government Railway Police (GRP) staff.

(With inputs from PTI)