The Hindu : National : Outrage over rape of minor

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 24, 2005

National

National

Outrage over rape of minor

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: For a city that prides itself on safety, Thursday's daylight rape of a minor in a police station came as a shock. Senior police officers and politicians described the incident as "shocking and shameful." They called for strict action against the police constable, Sunil More (30), who allegedly raped a 16-year-old girl in south Mumbai.

More was remanded to police custody till May 3.

According to one version, passers-by and local residents heard the screams of the girl, rushed to the cabin and broke open its door. They beat up More and ransacked the cabin. He was later arrested on a charge of rape, said Inspector Ishaq Bagwan. More has since been suspended.

The girl, a 11th standard student in Chembur, was walking on Marine Drive along with her friends. More, a motorcycle-borne beat marshal, saw the group and called them to the police station. He took the girl inside and allegedly raped her.

A shameful incident

The Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Ahmed Javed, said that this was the first time such a shameful incident took place inside a police station involving a policeman.

Mr. Javed said the beat marshal scheme was successful in Mumbai and it was all the more shocking that a member of this group would commit such a crime.

The City Police Commissioner, Anami Roy, Mr. Ahmed and the Zonal Deputy Commissioner, Naval Bajaj, had to face an angry crowd. The investigation has been entrusted to the Crime Branch.

Entire force cannot be blamed

The Deputy Chief Minister, R.R. Patil, visited the police cabin and said that the culprit would not be spared and punishment would be severe. "One cannot blame the entire police force for one incident," he said, adding that patrolling would be intensified to increase protection for women.

Veena Gowda of Majlis, which recently supported the bar girls' case, told The Hindu that rape must be seriously viewed and punishment must be deterrent.

PTI reports from New Delhi:

The National Commission for Women has called for a report on the incident from the Maharashtra Government.

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