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Journalism of Courage
A day after eight men were arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in Palghar, the Maharashtra State Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognisance and instructed police to take stringent action against the culprits.
Rupali Chakankar, chairperson of the commission, tweeted Monday, “I have personally contacted Palghar’s Superintendent of Police over the phone and taken detailed information about it. All the accused have been arrested and these accused have been booked under various sections of IPC and POCSO. The accused will be punished in this and there will definitely be strict action against them as well.”
Police said the gangrape took place on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. “Around 8pm on Friday, she and her male friend went to an unoccupied bungalow near a beach,” said an officer. Two of his friends were already there, drinking alcohol, he said. “Suddenly, the three men forced themselves on her and took turns to rape her. They confined her inside the bungalow and called two other friends, who also reached there and sexually assaulted her.”
Early on Saturday, three other men went to the bungalow and raped her, added another officer.
Around 2pm on Saturday, the girl’s father approached a police station in Palghar and complained that his daughter had not come home since Friday evening.
After she was found near the bungalow, the girl revealed her ordeal and the eight accused, aged between 21 and 30 years, were arrested. They were produced in court and remanded in police custody till Thursday.
Police said they were providing counselling to the minor girl. “In order to ensure that she is mentally stable, we are providing her adequate treatment. Besides, she is in a good condition physically and has been discharged from the hospital,” investigating officer Premnath Dhole said.
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