Mumbai loses ‘safe city’ tag
25 Aug 2013 5:18 AM IST
The gang rape of a 22-year-old photojournalist in Mumbai’s Lower Parel area on Thursday evening has triggered an avalanche of anger and outrage across the country on Friday, particularly because of the shameful and chilling similarities that the latest incident bears with the 16 December Delhi gang rape.
The incident happened as the young journalist visited the deserted Shakti Mills site in Lower Parel, Mumbai, for a photo assignment for her publication at around 6 pm on Thursday evening, along with a male colleague. Within minutes of their entering the factory site, they were accosted by the five men, who overpowered the male friend, tied him up and then raped the girl taking turns one by one. As a result of the horrific assault, the woman fell unconscious and came to her senses only after 8 pm, after which the two of them took a cab to Jaslok Hospital, four kilometers away. The doctors at the hospital informed the police.
Although sketches of all five accused men had been released by Mumbai police early on Friday, only one of them has been arrested so far, who, according to police sources, confessed to the crime and helped identify the four other culprits, who are expected to be arrested soon.
The young photojournalist was admitted in Mumbai’s Jaslok Hospital, where a doctor said that she had suffered some internal and external injuries, because of which she underwent surgery. She is now reported to be in a stable condition, although sources reveal that she was in a ‘depressed’ state of mind.
The young woman, who works with an English language magazine in the city, provided a detailed statement to the police, which, along with the testimony of her male colleague, helped identify all the alleged culprits and arrest one of them.
The attack also had its echo in Rajya Sabha which erupted in anger with agitated members expressing serious concern over increasing atrocities on women and the government assuring ‘harshest’ action against the culprits.Union law minister Kapil Sibal said sex assaults must be dealt with ‘in the severest manner,’ while the Maharashtra home minister RR Patil issued an advisory saying that women journalists on assignments could avail police protection if they need to visit ‘suspicious places’. A circular will be issued within a week.
The incident happened as the young journalist visited the deserted Shakti Mills site in Lower Parel, Mumbai, for a photo assignment for her publication at around 6 pm on Thursday evening, along with a male colleague. Within minutes of their entering the factory site, they were accosted by the five men, who overpowered the male friend, tied him up and then raped the girl taking turns one by one. As a result of the horrific assault, the woman fell unconscious and came to her senses only after 8 pm, after which the two of them took a cab to Jaslok Hospital, four kilometers away. The doctors at the hospital informed the police.
Although sketches of all five accused men had been released by Mumbai police early on Friday, only one of them has been arrested so far, who, according to police sources, confessed to the crime and helped identify the four other culprits, who are expected to be arrested soon.
The young photojournalist was admitted in Mumbai’s Jaslok Hospital, where a doctor said that she had suffered some internal and external injuries, because of which she underwent surgery. She is now reported to be in a stable condition, although sources reveal that she was in a ‘depressed’ state of mind.
The young woman, who works with an English language magazine in the city, provided a detailed statement to the police, which, along with the testimony of her male colleague, helped identify all the alleged culprits and arrest one of them.
The attack also had its echo in Rajya Sabha which erupted in anger with agitated members expressing serious concern over increasing atrocities on women and the government assuring ‘harshest’ action against the culprits.Union law minister Kapil Sibal said sex assaults must be dealt with ‘in the severest manner,’ while the Maharashtra home minister RR Patil issued an advisory saying that women journalists on assignments could avail police protection if they need to visit ‘suspicious places’. A circular will be issued within a week.
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