Zeenews Bureau
Mumbai, January 02: The shocking incident in which two women were allegedly molested by a group of 70 to 80 men for about 15 minutes in front of J W Marriott near the busy Juhu road early on New Year’s Day has failed to prick the conscience of Mumbai Police.
While the entire nation saw with horror pictures of the incident in a national daily, the Mumbai Police Commissioner D N Jadhav said, “Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. Keep your wives at home if you want them safe. These kind of small things can happen anywhere”
Washing his hands off the incident, which is the second consecutive in the past two years, D N Jadhav said, "We can not protect every one. This can happen every year. Police cannot be blamed for such incidents."
However, much due to the pressure created by the media and the countrywide criticism of Mumbai Police Commissioner’s view, finally a case of molestation has been registered under section 354 in the Juhu Police station.
Archana Tyagi, Additional Commissioner of Police, Mumbai said, ''I have seen reports published in the national daily. We will certainly take action. It happened on 31st night. I got in touch with the girls, they are not from Mumbai and not in Mumbai. We will take action as soon as possible.''
According to reports, the incident took place when the two women came out of the JW Marriott Hotel with two male friends around 0145 hours IST, and walked towards Juhu beach.
They were shortly chased by a mob of about 80 men, who started passing objectionable comments on them. Irked by their comments, one of the two women retaliated strongly at the hooligans. However, the situation turned violent and the mob, pounced on them, tore their clothes, pushed them to the ground and manhandled them.
A press photographer roaming in the area by chance, spotted a police van and immediately called for help, following which the police rushed in and chased away the mob.
The incident has shattered Mumbai Police’s claims of putting in place adequate security arrangements to avoid any untoward incident during New Year’s celebrations. It had repeatedly claimed that they were leaving no stones unturned in making the city safe for women.
A similar incident had shamed Mumbai exactly a year ago when revellers at the Gateway of India molested a girl on New Year’s eve. That incident, too, was captured on film by a popular Mumbai tabloid
Drunk revellers had stripped and molested a woman in public view, as her friend watched helplessly.
First Published: Wednesday, January 02, 2008, 00:00