Massive Protests Erupt in Thane After Nursery Students Sexually Assaulted; Parents Claim11-Hour FIR Delay

The parents of a nursery student in Thane, Maharashtra, have come forward with a disturbing account, revealing that their child was sexually assaulted at school. They only became aware of the crime after another set of parents, whose child was also a victim, informed them about the incident and their intention to report it to the police. After learning of the incident, the parents immediately sought medical attention for their child, which confirmed the sexual assault. This information was later documented in a First Information Report (FIR) filed with the local police in Badlapur, Thane district.

Adding to the family's distress was the significant delay in the filing of the FIR. Although the assault occurred on August 13, the police only officially registered the case on August 16, a delay of three days that has sparked outrage. The parents have expressed deep frustration over this delay, as it further compounded their trauma during an already harrowing time.

The young victims, both four-year-old girls, disclosed to their parents that a "dada," a term they used to describe an unidentified man, had assaulted them within the school premises. The revelation of these assaults led to widespread public outrage in Thane, culminating in massive protests. Early in the morning, thousands of demonstrators gathered at the local train station in Badlapur, bringing train services to a halt as they expressed their anger and demanded justice.

As the protest continued for six hours, the crowd swelled, raising serious concerns about the impact on train operations and the broader implications for public safety. The government's attempts to pacify the protesters were met with chants of "hang, hang," as the demonstrators demanded the death penalty for the 23-year-old school cleaner who is alleged to have committed the assaults.

In response to the severity of the case, Ujjwal Nikam, a prominent lawyer and Padma Shri awardee known for his work on high-profile cases, including the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, has been appointed as the special public prosecutor. His involvement underscores the seriousness with which the legal system is approaching the case, as the community and the nation at large look for swift and decisive action against the perpetrator.