At first glance, the Badlapur school seems to have returned to normal, with children seen playing and guards chatting at the entrance. But, beneath this facade, a palpable tension lingers. Since the horrific events of August 12 and 13, when a school sweeper sexually assaulted two four-year-old girls, the community has been shaken. The school’s slow response and the absence of its principal and key trustees have left both students and parents feeling uneasy. As the campus tries to resume its routines, a shared sentiment echoes through the halls: “It’s not the same.”

The incident that rattled this peaceful school campus in Badlapur’s Kulgaon area has left deep scars. On August 12 and 13, a school sweeper sexually assaulted two four-year-old girls. The response from the school, marked by delays in registering an FIR, only fuelled outrage within the community. Anger reached a boiling point on August 20, as parents and locals gathered in large numbers to protest outside the police station and at Badlapur railway station, demanding justice and accountability. This led to stone pelting and disruption of traffic movements and rail services for hours.