Maharashtra child rights panel chief condemns Badlapur sexual assault

Mumbai ( Maharashtra) [India], August 21 (ANI): Susieben Shah, chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, on Wednesday condemned the alleged sexual assault of two minor girls in Maharashtra's Badlapur.
"The incident that happened in Badalpur yesterday is very condemnable. Yesterday I visited the school and also enquired there and we felt that there were some shortcomings in all sections," Shah told ANI.
"Unless we create a separate structure for children and women, I don't think there will be much difference because in every district, in every taluka, the number of women and children is 70% and in every district, 15% of the crime is against women and children and that is why a separate structure is needed.
"We will demand that this structure should be set up within 3 months. Our Mahayuti government is very sensitive towards women and children and will implement it immediately," she added.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole on Wednesday slammed the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government for doing "politics" over the incident.
"The government itself is doing politics in this (Badlapur incident). The biggest state where crime against children takes place is Maharashtra. 21,000 such incidents have happened in the state and the government is hiding them. On August 24 we called for Maharashtra Bandh," Patole told reporters.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam assured the people that the Maharashtra government condemned the incident and that the accused would be punished soon.
"We are here after the agitation that erupted yesterday...We are here to assure the people that our government stand in support of them and we condemn this incident... SIT has been formed to investigate the matter and we are also trying to get the accused punished as soon as possible," Nirupam said.
The alleged sexual assault of two fourth-grade girls in Badlapur, Maharashtra by a school attendant has sparked outrage. On August 17 police arrested an attendant for allegedly abusing the girls.
This incident has created massive outrage among the people in Badlapur. On August 17, police arrested an attendant for allegedly abusing the girls.
On Tuesday, a massive protest was held at Badlapur Railway Station in response to the alleged sexual assault of two minor girls. Protesters also pelted stones at police during the protest. Heavy security has been deployed to control the crowd protesting against the incident.
Maharashtra Police has arrested more than 40 people and registered an FIR against 300 people following the massive protest over the incident that led to stone-pelting, disruption of train services and lathi charges on Tuesday.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde ordered a high-level probe into the incident and said that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the case. (ANI)