Local Protests Erupt Over Alleged Assault at Badlapur School

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut disputes Maharashtra government's claim that protesters at Badlapur station were outsiders. Raut shared a police remand application showing most protesters were locals. The protest targeted a local school over an alleged sexual assault on two kindergarten girls, sparking a police response.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has contested the Maharashtra government's declaration that protesters at Badlapur station were not locals. According to Raut, the individuals who protested against the alleged sexual assault of two kindergarten girls at a local school were actually residents of the area.

In a post shared on social media platform X on Wednesday night, Raut presented a police remand application indicating that most of the people arrested for rioting were local to Badlapur. He also tagged Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the post.

The protest, which occurred on Tuesday, saw hundreds blocking railway tracks at Badlapur station and led to a police lathi charge after protesters began pelting stones. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had earlier stated that the protest was politically motivated and involved mainly outsiders, a claim now disputed by Raut.

(With inputs from agencies.)