Trustees of Badlapur School Arrested Amid Sexual Assault Case
- Posted on October 3, 2024
- News
- By Arijit Dutta
- 129 Views
Two trustees from a Badlapur school were arrested in connection with the sexual assault of two four-year-old girls. The arrests follow public protests and criticism of law enforcement's inaction. The main accused, a school cleaner, had previously been arrested and killed in a police encounter.
In a significant development in the Badlapur sexual assault case involving two four-year-old girls, authorities arrested two school trustees, Uday Kotwal and Tushar Apte, on Wednesday in Karjat, Raigad district. The arrests came shortly after the Bombay High Court criticized the inaction of law enforcement in apprehending the accused following protests by outraged citizens.
The incidents reportedly occurred on August 12 and 13 when Akshay Shinde, a cleaner at the school, assaulted the girls. The assaults were reported by the victims' parents to the school principal, who then notified the trustees. However, it was alleged that Kotwal and Apte failed to take immediate action, leading to their inclusion in the investigation as non-reporting of child sexual assault is punishable under the POCSO Act.
The police, working with a special investigation team (SIT), apprehended the trustees after receiving tips regarding their whereabouts. Following their arrest, they were transferred to the SIT for further questioning. Both trustees have denied prior knowledge of the assaults, claiming they only learned about them during police inquiries.
In previous court hearings, their pleas for pre-arrest bail were rejected as evidence indicated negligence on their part. The case has sparked widespread protests, with local residents expressing anger at the alleged mishandling of the situation by both school authorities and law enforcement. Shinde, the main accused, was arrested earlier and later killed in an alleged police encounter.
Also Read: Massive Protests in Kolkata by Junior Doctors, Medical Students Over Rape-Murder Case on Mahalaya
As investigations continue, many are calling for accountability and action against those responsible for the safety of children in schools.
