Internet suspended in India over sexual abuse case

Internet services in India’s Badlapur in Maharashtra’s Thane district were suspended on Wednesday, a day after a massive protest over the alleged sexual abuse of two kindergarten girls, and 72 people have been arrested in connection with the violent backlash, officials said, reports telegraphindia.

At least 17 city police personnel and eight railway cops were injured in stone-pelting at the railway station and other parts of Badlapur during the protest on Tuesday, they said.

Police have been deployed in large numbers across Badlapur to maintain law and order, and the situation in the town is back to normal.

DCP Sudhakar Pathare said on Wednesday that Internet services in the town had been suspended in the wake of the protest and subsequent violence.

“The Internet services will be restored after a review of the situation in the town,” he said.

Most schools in the town remained shut on Wednesday, local people said.

“At least 17 city police personnel, including two officers, were injured as a mob attacked them with stones during the protest in Badlapur on Tuesday. We have registered three FIRs on charges of violation of prohibitory orders, armed unlawful assembly, assault, and damage to public property, among others against the miscreants,” a senior police official in Badlapur said.

“Forty people have been arrested so far in connection with stone-pelting and other crimes. Attempts to identify other offenders are on. CCTV footage and video news clippings are being examined,” he added.

Commissioner of government railway police (GRP) Ravindra Shisve said an FIR had been registered in connection with the violence at Badlapur railway station and 32 persons arrested.

A local court on Wednesday extended the police remand of the accused till August 26._Agencies.