84 people deny witnessing abuse at women’s shelter

The Mumbai police crime branch, till Friday evening, recorded statements of 84 people, as part of their inquiry into allegations that inmates of a government-run women shelter home at Mankhurd were beaten up and raped repeatedly by anti-social elements.

The Mumbai police crime branch, till Friday evening, recorded statements of 84 people, as part of their inquiry into allegations that inmates of a government-run women shelter home at Mankhurd were beaten up and raped repeatedly by anti-social elements.

HT Image

All the 84 people have said that no such incident has happened in their presence. Sources in the crime branch said all of them said they hadn’t heard of any such thing happening prior to the claims by the victim in an interview to the media.

The crime branch will submit a report to the state on Monday. “Those who gave statements have spoken about the mismanagement, inadequate facilities and overcrowding in the shelter home,” a source said.

A team of unit 6 of the crime branch, under the supervision of Ambadas Pote, deputy commissioner of police (Detection) are conducting the inquiry.

The inquiry was transferred to the crime branch following an order by chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Monday. A news report on Monday quoted one of the inmates of Navjeevan Mahila Vastigruh at Mankhurd, who fled because of constant threats, saying that several of her fellow women were raped by armed men in the night.

She said the staff and police posted at the centre did not help. Chavan has asked the crime branch to trace the said woman, the victims and the administrators of the rehabilitation centre, for questioning. The crime branch has identified the victim who has spoken to the media about the alleged incident but she is yet to be traced, sources said.