Maharashtra Appoints Special Prosecutor Amid Assault Case

The horrific sexual assault of two four-year-old girls by a school sweeper in Badlapur, Maharashtra, has led to significant public outrage and protests. The Maharashtra government has appointed senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam as the Special Public Prosecutor despite opposition due to his BJP affiliation. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has mandated the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by a woman IPS officer and has ensured that the case will be fast-tracked. The government has also suspended three police officers for their delayed response in filing the FIR. Public figures like actor Riteish Deshmukh have expressed their anger and called for harsh punishments for the perpetrator. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has demanded a detailed report on the incident and the delay in police action.