Badlapur School Said Children’s Injuries Were Due To Bicycle Riding!

A family member of one of the two kindergarten girls who were sexually abused at a school in Badlapur, Maharashtra, has accused school officials and local police of serious negligence and harassment. In an interview with India Today TV, the family member claimed that the school principal dismissed medical reports confirming the sexual assault, suggesting instead that the injuries could have resulted from bicycle riding.

The family member also reported that the parents were subjected to long waits at both the hospital and the police station. They alleged that police officers threatened them, warning them not to participate in protests regarding the case’s handling.

These allegations have raised concerns about how local authorities initially managed the Badlapur sexual assault case. The two girls, aged three and four, were reportedly abused by a cleaning staff member on August 12-13. After the family took one of the girls to a private hospital for a medical examination, which confirmed injuries, they approached the school on August 16 with the findings, but the school dismissed their claims.

The family member stated that the police did not take their complaints seriously until 12 hours later, after intervention from local political leaders. Even then, they alleged that the police altered their statements in the FIR.

The accused, identified as Akshay Shinde, was arrested on August 17. The family has expressed distress over the situation, noting that the girl is traumatized and refuses to meet anyone, while her family members are facing health issues due to the stress of the ordeal.

Additionally, the family criticized the school for not having female staff present to supervise the girls’ restroom use, which could have potentially prevented the incident. The case has prompted widespread protests, leading to the suspension of the principal and other staff members, as well as police officials for their inadequate response.