Mumbai Shame: Minor rape victim turned away by two police stations on jurisdiction pretext

First the minor was kidnapped and raped while walking on a foot-over bridge near Ulhasnagar railway station. Shockingly, when she approached the local police stations to register her complaint, two police stations turned her away citing jurisdiction issues. This happened in the financial capital of India makes the matters worse. What compounds the crime is the fact that the accused is a habitual criminal and he used the Ulhasnagar railway station premise - deserted staff quarters of railways - but there was no security or police presence to stop such crimes. No wonder, criminals feel free to perpetrate the crime and go scot-free for a long time. It would be no surprise if this criminal had indulged in such a crime earlier and threatened the victim not to register a complaint.

According to the police commissioner, the victim woman had gone to two local police stations of Thane to register the case, but the local police did not register the case saying that the place where the incident took place does not come under their jurisdiction.

However, as per the law, the case could have been registered at any police station and then transferred to the police station of that area.

The whole matter will be investigated as to why the case was not registered, said the police commissioner, reports ANI.

Raped on way to home from railway station
Mumbai Railway Police have arrested the accused for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl near Ulhasnagar railway station on Friday night, said Quaiser Khalid, Mumbai Railway Police Commissioner on Sunday.

Kidnapped while walking on a foot-over bridge
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, he said that the minor victim was travelling via local train from Kalyan railway station to Ulhasnagar railway station around 9 pm with two of her friends, who are teenagers.

Victim's friends threatened to leave, raped at nearby quarters
"The victim got down at Ulhasnagar railway station and were walking on a foot-over bridge. Her friends were threatened to leave with a hammer by the accused and the victim was kidnapped. She was then taken to nearby staff quarters of railways which is now deserted where she was raped," he said.

The nightmare continued until Saturday morning
The victim was held until Saturday morning and she then called a friend and narrated the series of incidents, said Khalid.

Cases already registered against accused
The police has registered the case registered against the accused Shrikant Gaikwad alias Dada under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He also said, "Forensics team has collected evidence and further probe is underway. There are a number of cases registered against the accused in Thane. An investigation team has have been constituted to be lead by a Police Inspector level woman officer."

(With ANI inputs)