Minors held for rape

A dishevelled Rekha folds her hands and requests reporters not to publicize the incident. ‘‘I have not even told my husband. If he comes to know, he will kill me. I don’t want any trouble for my girl. She is just a child and doesn’t know anything,’’ she pleads.

Three months ago, Rekha, who works in seven houses in the colony, began working at the Thakurs’ residence. On some occasions, she says, Jaya too would accompany her.

On September 1, the boys allegedly went to Rekha’s slum — Rekha, her labourer husband and three children stay in a slum next to the colony.

They told Jaya that her mother had sent for her, and led her to an empty Thakur residence, says Rekha. Thakur’s parents were out at work and the boys allegedly raped Jaya.

Jaya panicked, ran out of the house, and informed Draupadi Barve — Rekha worked at her place too.

‘‘She told me that some boys had done nasty things to my daughter,’’ says Rekha, who alleges that the boys’ parents wanted her to keep the matter under wraps.

‘‘They offered Rs 500. I refused. We are very poor but I’m concerned about my daughter,’’ she says.

Fearing for her daughter’s reputation, Rekha didn’t go to the police.

But a few days later, Jaya complained of pain in her genitals. After the doctor who examined her referred the case to the civic hospital, authorities asked Rekha to inform the police.

On September 4, Rekha lodged a complaint at the Mulund Police Station and a team led by Police Inspector Narendra Kokare took the boys into custody. Facing charges of rape, they are now at the Dongri Children’s Home.

Senior Inspector K.C. Jadhav says the case is ‘‘very disturbing’’. The boys, he says, told him they loved the girl.

‘‘They probably did this under the influence of television or the Internet, where adult content is freely available,’’ he reasons.

At the Mulund colony, the houses of the accused are locked. Neighbours say they haven’t seen the families after the police paid a visit.

‘‘This is the first time something like this has taken place here,’’ says a shaken Ritesh Barve, Draupadi’s grandson.

(Name of victim changed to protect identity)