Who is Akshay Shinde? Accused arrested in sexual assault case of two 4-year-old girls in Badlapur

Badlapur Sexual Harassment: A person was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two girls in a school in Badlapur in Thane district of Maharashtra. The arrested person was identified as Akshay Shinde, who works as a cleaner at a local school, reports ABP LIVE.

Who is Akshay Shinde?

According to the report, 24-year-old Akshay Shinde is a cleaner and was hired at the school on August 1 through a cleaning company on a contract basis.

Meanwhile, the court has extended the police custody of the alleged street sweeper involved in the sexual abuse of two schoolgirls in Badlapur in Maharashtra until August 26, according to news agency PTI reported. The alleged accused was produced before a magistrate in Kalyan in the district this morning amid tight police security.

The police arrested the defendant on August 17. According to the prosecution, he had abused two kindergarten girls in the school toilet.

Massive protest in Badlapur

A mass protest broke out on Tuesday after parents of schoolchildren and local residents blocked the railway tracks at Badlapur railway station and vandalised a local school building to protest against the incident and demand strict punishment for the accused.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that senior advocate Ujjwal Nikam will be the special public prosecutor in the Badlapur sexual assault case. He also assured that the trial in the case will take place in a fast-track court. On the other hand, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde ordered a high-level probe into the case and said that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will be formed.

Yesterday, the protest led to the diversion of several long-distance trains, including the Mumbai-Surat Vande Bharat, Pune Duronto and other important trains. Local train services on the Ambarnath and Karjat routes were also affected by the protests. Earlier, the state government on Tuesday also ordered the suspension of three police officials, including a senior police inspector, for neglecting their duties in investigating the sexual abuse of the two girls.

Internet blocked in Badlapur

In the city of Badlapur, internet services were suspended and schools remained closed today amid protests and violence. On Tuesday, at least 25 policemen were injured by stone-pelting at the railway station and other locations, and police arrested 72 people in connection with the unrest.

(With contributions from agencies)