MAHARASHTRA Congress President Nana Patole on Wednesday slammed Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti Government for doing “politics” over the alleged sexual assault of two minor girls in Maharashtra’s Badlapur incident and said that MahaVikas Aghadi (MVA) has called for a Maharashtra Bandh on August 24. “The Government itself is doingpoliticsin this (Badlapur incident). The biggest State where crime against children takes place is Maharashtra. 21,000 such incidents have happened in the State and the Government is hiding them. On August 24, we have called forMaharashtraBandh,”Patole told reporters. Meanwhile, ShivSenaleader Sanjay Nirupam assured the people that Maharashtra Government condemns the incident and the accused would be punished soon.

 

“We are here after the agitation thateruptedyesterday...We are here to assure the people thatourGovernment standsin support of them and we condemn this incident... SIT has been formed to investigate thematterandwearealso trying to get the accused punished as soon as possible,” Nirupam said. The alleged sexual assault of two girls in Badlapur, Maharashtraby aschool attendant has sparked outrage. On August 17, police arrested an attendant for allegedly abusing the girls. This incident has created massive outrage among the people in Badlapur. Internet services have been shut down in Badlapur and shops have been ordered to remain closed. Earlier,amassiveprotestwas held at Badlapur Railway Station in response to the alleged sexual assault of two minor girls.

 

Protesters alsopelted stones at police during the protest. Heavy security has been deployed to control the crowd protesting against the incident. Maharashtra Police has arrested more than 40 people and registered an FIR against 300 people following the massive protest over the incident that led to stone-pelting, disruption of train services and lathi charges on Tuesday. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde orderedahigh-level probe into the incident and said thataSpecial Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the case.