Has a minor girl been gangraped in Mumbai? One arrested

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Community safety needs to be prioritized.
- Vulnerable individuals require greater protection.
- Systemic issues must be addressed.
- Legal frameworks must evolve to handle such cases.
- A collaborative approach can help prevent future incidents.
Mumbai, Aug 2 (NationPress) A 20-year-old individual has been taken into custody regarding the alleged gangrape of a minor girl, as stated by a police officer on Saturday.
This arrest followed the filing of a case at the Tilak Nagar Police Station in Mumbai, with further investigations currently ongoing.
The young victim is from the Ghatkopar locality of Mumbai. The arrest was made by the Tilak Nagar Police, who noted that the suspect is reportedly mentally unstable.
The incident came to light when an 18-year-old girl from Ghatkopar was admitted to Rajawadi Hospital due to health complications. During the investigation, it was discovered that she was 8 months pregnant.
Upon this revelation, authorities registered a case under pertinent sections of the gangrape and POCSO Act based on the victim's testimony. Initially, the investigation suggested a gangrape scenario, but the police have since clarified that it does not qualify as such.
Authorities revealed that the victim is mentally unstable, has never attended school, and lacks guardianship. Coming from a disadvantaged family, she is often seen wandering alone, leading to multiple instances of her going missing, with 3-4 kidnapping cases already recorded against her at the Ghatkopar Police Station.
In her initial account, the victim indicated that a young man residing near the hospital was involved with her, alongside two others.
However, she struggled to provide specific details regarding the timing and identification of these individuals. One name she mentioned had passed away in July; this individual was known to live on the streets inebriated.
As police conducted further investigations, the name of another suspect emerged, who had gone into hiding on Friday. Authorities successfully tracked him down and, during questioning, he confessed to his involvement.
Although the incident occurred last December, making CCTV footage unavailable, police interviewed over 100 people, including auto drivers, tea vendors, and local temple-goers, confirming that the victim was frequently seen with the suspect.