The Congress party in Maharashtra has called for the removal of special prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam and the head of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the horrific sexual assault case in Badlapur. The demand comes amidst growing concerns about the impartiality of the investigation.
The incident, which has sent shockwaves through the state, involved the sexual assault of two four-year-old girls inside the washroom of a school in the Thane district. The assaults took place on August 12 and 13, but an FIR was lodged only several days later. The accused, a male attendant at the school, was arrested on August 17.
Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole expressed the party’s stance, stating, “As far as the SIT is concerned, we have doubts about IPS officer Arti Singh. They have appointed Ujjwal Nikam as Special Prosecutor, but he is already a BJP worker. So, both of them should be replaced and there should be justice. This is our stand.”
The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, which includes the Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray), has also targeted Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde over the incident. They have criticized the government’s handling of the case and demanded swift and decisive action to ensure justice for the victims.
The case has sparked widespread outrage and calls for stringent action against the perpetrators. The demand for the removal of Nikam and Singh highlights the importance of ensuring transparency and fairness in the investigation, as well as the need for accountability from those responsible for protecting children.
