Four molesters identified by victims; probe reveals media was main target

Four of the 55 arrested in connection with the violence at Azad Maidan on August 11, have been found to be involved in the molestation of women constables. The four molesters were identified by the victims, a senior crime branch official said.

Four of the 55 arrested in connection with the violence at Azad Maidan on August 11, have been found to be involved in the molestation of women constables. The four molesters were identified by the victims, a senior crime branch official said.

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Though the official refused to give the names of the molesters, he said that all of them had criminal records.

“Not only were they identified by the victims, but we also have electronic evidence in the form of videos and photographs to corroborate their involvement,” the official said.

Earlier, a special team comprising women constables and officers had been constituted to identify those involved in the molestation of women police personnel at the rally.

Investigation of a majority of the 55 arrested has also revealed that the media was the prime target of those who caused the violence during the rally.

Joint commissioner of police (crime) Himanshu Roy said that the interrogation of a majority of arrested vandals, charged with murder, molestation and attempted murder, had revealed that the mob had gathered there with the sole intention of attacking media personnel.

About 150 people, not part of the rally, were suspected to have come from Govandi and Garib Nagar in Bandra (East). “They came in groups, with petrol/kerosene cans. Once they got off at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), they quickly went to the venue and started attacking the media personnel and their property without provocation,” added Roy.

Interrogation has also revealed that they were systematically incited and motivated to target the media, during the run-up to the rally.

Roy also said that the police are now on the lookout for those responsible for the systematic provocation and also those who provided logistics to execute the attack.