Another victim of Shakti Mills rapists reveals same gristly tactics

The boy who helped Mumbai police nab the alleged culprits in the gangrape at Shakti Mills on August 22 has been arrested for his involvement in the rape of an 18-year-old woman. The second case  happened in the same compound on July 31.

On Tuesday, the 18-year-old victim approached the police, saying that three of the accused in the August 22 gangrape had also raped her. She also described the 17-year-old boy who had borne witness for the other rape to the police. He has been charged with rape after he confirmed his involvement, said a report in the Mumbai Mirror . The fifth accused has been identified as Mumbra resident Ashfaq Babu Shaikh.

The revelation of this rape, as well as the fact that the same men had been behind it, reveals the eerie patterns behind sexual assault in the area. The mode of attack is the same - the 18-year-old girl was walking in the compound with a male friend along the train tracks when they were accosted by three men, who said they had trespassed on railway property - a similar threat faced by the photojournalist and her friend. “She identified Vijay Jadhav alias Mannya, Kasim Bangali and Mohammed Saleem Ansari. Out of the remaining two, one was later identified to be a minor, who is now detained by the NM Joshi police. He will be produced in a juvenile court today,” said an NDTV report.

“The complaint said the three forced the victim and her friend to accompany them to the mill compound, and called two others. Later, the victim’ friend was tied to a tree. The photojournalist’s colleague was also tied to a tree,” reports the Mumbai Mirror.

The 18-year-old girl works at a call-centre. “The survivor told the Bhandup police that the gang had trapped them when she and her boyfriend-aged 21, and now her husband-went to the mill on the evening of July 31 seeking privacy,” says the Times of India report. “The N M Joshi police have taken over the probe.”