Internet services were disrupted and schools remained closed for the second consecutive day in a town near India's financial hub Mumbai on Wednesday, as protests escalated over the alleged sexual assault of two four-year-old girls, according to media reports.
The demonstrations in Badlapur, located approximately 50 kilometers from Mumbai, coincide with nationwide protests following the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor in Kolkata. A janitor was apprehended for allegedly sexually abusing students at a Badlapur school over the weekend, media outlets reported. Attempts by Reuters to contact police officials in Badlapur on Tuesday went unanswered.
Frustrated protesters obstructed railway tracks for several hours on Tuesday, demanding justice for the children, mirroring similar protests nationwide involving doctors and women's groups. Authorities mandated the closure of schools and suspended internet services for a second day to prevent gatherings or protests, as reported by ABP news channel.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced that the case would be expedited through a fast-track court. Shinde also suggested on Wednesday that the protests were politically driven. Maharashtra, the wealthiest state in India, is set to hold state elections later this year, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party facing a challenging contest against a united opposition coalition.
Opposition parties in the state have scheduled a statewide strike for August 24, as declared by Congress lawmaker Varsha Gaikwad during a protest in Mumbai on Wednesday.
