The concerns regarding crime against women were raised again on Tuesday when an 18-year-old girl was allegedly molested by a group of men in broad daylight in the city’s Kandivali area.
Eventually she was rescued by passersby and a police beat marshal. One of the accused was picked up immediately, but the girl was unwilling to press charges.
It took the police hours to convince her and her family to register a complaint, following which two more men were arrested. The incident comes within weeks of police commissioner Rakesh Maria announcing that tackling crime against women was his topmost priority.
The girl and her friend, both Malad residents, had come from Bandra to Hindustan Naka in an auto. While getting off, they realized that they did not have enough cash to pay the fare. The girl’s friend said she had a relative who stayed close by and left to borrow cash. When she did not return for quite some time, the girl decided to look for her.
But the auto driver insisted that he be paid. “So, the girl handed him her cellphone as security. But while the driver and she were having a loud argument, some young men who were playing cricket started to gather near the spot,” said an eyewitness. “When the girl started to leave the spot, the men began teasing her.”