Two youth arrested for abusing 23-yr-old

Around a week after HT had highlighted the case of 23-year-old Monisha Ajgaonkar, a freelance photographer, who had been manhandled and abused by two youngsters, the RAK Marg police tracked down the duo and arrested them.

Around a week after HT had highlighted the case of 23-year-old Monisha Ajgaonkar, a freelance photographer, who had been manhandled and abused by two youngsters, the RAK Marg police tracked down the duo and arrested them.

On Wednesday the RAK Marg police registered an FIR and booked Alqamar Sheikh, 21, and Shahbaz Sheikh, 19, — the molestors — under IPC Section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 323 (causing hurt). The duo will be produced in the court on Thursday.

HT Image

The police had earlier filed a non-cognisable offence and said that no investigations would be carried out in the case.

Sub inspector Sara Shaikh of RAK Marg police station, who registered the FIR, told HT that they tracked down the two accused from their residence in Sewri. Monisha was called to the police station to identify the duo.

Shaikh said the police had sought details of the ownership of a blue colour Honda Activa from the RTO which had been sold in Sewri in the past. The RTO provided the registration number two such vehicles. From the two, the police tracked down the one belonging to Alqamar, who led the police to his associate, Shaikh.

Monisha meanwhile told HT, “The accused apologized to me and told me not to pursue the matter as it would ruin their career. I would have relented. However, they then started making up stories about how I had beaten them up, and I decided to go ahead with the compliant. While I am happy they have been arrested, it is sad that prior to the HT story, the police did not take my complaint seriously.”

Following the RAK Marg police’s lukeworm response to the woman’s plight, HT had contacted both the Zonal DCP (zone 4) Keshav Patil and additional commissioner, Central Region, Pravin Salunkhe.