– Thousands of protesters blocked train tracks at Badlapur railway station over the alleged sexual assault of two four-year-old girls by a school sweeper
– The protests led to disruption of local train services and diversion of some long-distance trains
– The accused, a 23-year-old male cleaner, allegedly assaulted the girls in the school washroom
– The parents of the girls filed a complaint on August 16 leading to the perpetrator’s arrest
– The school suspended the principal and three staff members as protests escalated
– The Thane police lathicharged protesters after nine hours of protests
– Heavy police deployment was seen at the protest site with tear gas and lathi charges used
– 12 mail express trains were diverted and 30 local trains partially cancelled due to the protests
– Protests continued even after assurances of stern action against the accused by the police commissioner