Navi Mumbai: Social activists, under the leadership of Gram Samvardhan Sanstha President and Raigad Bhushan awardee Santosh Thakur, have announced an indefinite sit-in protest outside the Pen Tehsil office starting July 16. The protest demands immediate criminal action against those responsible for the death of Khushbu Thakre, a tribal student from the Varavane Tribal Ashram School, who died six months ago during treatment for leprosy.
"Despite the passage of half a year, no FIR has been filed in connection with her death. We are demanding that the health department’s inquiry report and the chemical analysis report be handed over to the police and made public. If these reports are not submitted by July 16, the authorities should file criminal charges against the accused based on the complaints filed by Khushbu's parents," activist Thakur said.
Additionally, they have called for a thorough investigation into the role of the individuals named in the complaints and urged the police to collect evidence and submit a chargesheet in court. They have also demanded that the response submitted by District Health Officer during the internal inquiry be disregarded, as her conduct was allegedly irresponsible and amounted to abuse of power. The activists are calling for her immediate suspension from the post and the filing of a criminal case against her.
The protestors are also seeking Rs 10 lakh as compensation for Khushbu Thakre’s parents, considering the negligence that allegedly led to her death. Furthermore, they have stressed the need for a policy-level decision regarding the health and medical care of students in tribal ashram schools across the state. They recalled that Congress MLA Hemant Ogle had previously raised this issue in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and noted that since the session is ongoing until July 30, they expect the matter to be raised again.
The formal representation regarding the protest and demands was submitted to Pen Tehsildar Tanaji Shejal and Assistant Police Inspector Navarkhed, who is the investigating officer in the case. Present at the submission were Khushbu’s father Namdev Thakre, activist Santosh Thakur, Naresh Kadu from the Gram Samvardhan Committee, C.R. Mhatre from the Pen Kharepata Vikas Sankalp Sanghatana, Nanda Mhatre – National General Secretary of the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sanghatana, Mohini Gore from the Women’s Federation, Sandeep Patil Gagode from the Satyashodhak Movement, and representatives from the Acharya Vinoba Bhave Janmasthan Trust, including Sangeeta Tai and Vandana Jadhav.
The organizers have called on people from tribal and non-tribal communities, along with political and social organizations, to support the protest and stand in solidarity in the pursuit of justice for Khushboo Thakre.
Khushbu, a resident of Varavane in Pen taluka, died on January 22, this year, during treatment for leprosy under the Maharashtra government’s Kushta Rog Surakshit Maharashtra (Kusum) campaign. Her parents allege that medication was administered without their consent, resulting in a severe reaction that led to her death. She was a 4th-grade student at the Government Adivasi Ashram School in Tambadi Thakurwadi, Borgaon.
