Mumbai rape attempt, stabbing: Society didn’t insist on police verification for security guard
The Andheri society did not closed circuit television cameras installed on their premises, said police, adding they still have evidence against the guard
The housing society in Andheri’s Four Bungalows, where a security guard on Thursday allegedly attempted to rape a 50-year-old woman and stabbed her for resisting, had not registered the 25-year-old temporary staff member, Raja Shebu, with the police.
Moreover, they did not have closed circuit television cameras installed on their premises, said police.
The Mumbai police, through regular campaigns, ask citizens to get the security staff to register with them. The registration includes submission of identity proof such as Aadhaar card and verification of credentials.
The Amboli police will now question the security agency that hired the accused. “We need to check if the security agency is registered and if they have a procedure to hire and conduct background checks,” said Bharat Gaikwad, senior inspector, Amboli police station.
In 2011, then deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Pratap Dighavkar started a special drive for police stations from Bandra (West) to Jogeshwari (West). The police teams had to approach housing societies to collect details of security guards.
The data came in handy in cases where security guards fled after committing a crime.
“The practice is on. In this case, we caught the guard with the help of alert citizens. It would have been difficult to trace him if he had escaped,” said Gaikwad, adding Shebu has no criminal record.
Dighavkar, additional commissioner of south region, Mumbai, has started the practice in SoBo too.
“We have got details of security guards and watchmen in the areas under our jurisdiction,” said Manojkumar Sharma, DCP, zone 1, which covers areas from Colaba to JJ Marg.
No CCTV footage, but have evidence: Police
The Amboli police on Sunday said they have enough evidence against Raja Shebu, the 25-year-old security guard who allegedly attempted to rape and murder a 50-year-old in a housing society in Four Bungalows, Andheri, on Thursday.
Balwant Patil, inspector, Amboli police station, said, “We don’t have CCTV camera footage, but have enough evidence against the accused.”
The woman, who is in the hospital, is currently stable, officials said. Shebu will be in police custody till Wednesday.
Shebu allegedly went to the woman’s house with a cable operator. After the other man left, Shebu asked the woman for her phone number. He touched her inappropriately, bit her and stabbed her in the stomach when she started to scream, said police.