Young woman groped by some 60 perverts in plain public view in Bombay

[DesiBaba]

Young woman groped by some 60 perverts in plain public view in Bombay

On New Year’s Eve, I was supposed to click pictures of revellers at the Gateway of India, but what I witnessed instead has left me shaken.

A young woman was groped by some 60 perverts in plain public view, while her male friend, who tried to protect her, was pushed aside violently.

The 10 harrowing minutes the helpless woman cried for help as the perverts abused her, shook my faith in the city I have lived in all my life. I thought such things happened only in Delhi. I was clearly wrong.

I was at the place at 11.35 pm with my camera, taking pictures that captured the mood of the New Year celebrations. I was atop the temporary watchtowers erected by the cops.

After a few minutes, as the crowd grew larger, I could vaguely make out a youth aged around 25, surrounded by a mob of around 60 to 70 people.




When I zoomed in, I saw the girl of about the same age being groped by the crowd.

The girl was screaming for help but her voice was drowned in the commotion. Her companion tried to shield her but found himself helpless.

The presence of 50-odd policemen at the site did not deter them. Even as she cried pitifully, I saw them pull at her dress, leaving it torn from below the waist.

In the middle of this pushing and shoving, the girl fell down. The wild men, taking advantage of her, pounced on her with even more venom. After an agonising 10 minutes, the two managed to extricate themselves from the crowd and leave the venue.

A few metres away I saw a middle-aged saree-clad woman being groped. Mercifully, police escorted her away before the situation got worse.
Ironically, Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil had visited the site only minutes before the first incident. I later checked with the Colaba police station and found that no police complaint was lodged.

Police speak

PSI Umesh Kadam, who was on duty at Colaba police station on the night expressed surprise and said, “Nobody filed a complaint with us. We haven’t received a report about any such incident. I have been on duty in the police station the whole night.”

http://mid-day.com/news/city/2007/january/149380.htm

[diksit]

shocking. I find it hard to belive that Such an incident can happen in a city like Bombay

[Desi24]

This is so disgusting!!

And Indians are always claiming to be morally and culturally superior....tsk...tsk....

[Sane Less]

I just cannot see why my dear fellow echans are surprised. I would have done the same as any of these 60-70 odd fellows did... if I did not have any girlfriend that night nor had one for years before that. This is a night for fun... specially if I go to a public place. And if I did not have a girlfriend... and I see a beautiful girl in the midst... don't know... I wouldn't be able to control myself.

The guy is the idiot here. However progressive Bombay is, it is still way backwards as far as boy/girl relationships go (in a city where Valentine's day means throwing stones at the neighbourhood stores, what else can we expect). You have a girlfriend, you better keep her safe. On a New Year Eve's celebration, if I had a girlfriend... I would be home... all alone with my girlfriend... with a huge bottle of champagne... and candles... and cream (lots and lots of cream)

[Robert]

Originally Posted by Sane Less

On a New Year Eve's celebration, if I had a girlfriend...

Thats a big IF right there.

No cream for you ... comeback 1 year.

[Sane Less]

Originally Posted by Robert

Thats a big IF right there.

No cream for you ... comeback 1 year.

That is so true, Robbera pai... wish I had a girlfriend... those were the days... sane wistfully strolling into memory lane... aaj kal all time gone with biwi/bacche... shit... wish I had a girlfriend.

[echarcha]

This is sick and sad. Such acts bring shame to my dear Mumbai...

[Sane Less]

Originally Posted by echarcha

This is sick and sad. Such acts bring shame to my dear Mumbai...

Echari pai, you think this sort of thing would not happen elsewhere? Try going to NYC on New Year's eve with your most beautiful looking girlfriend and walk into the nearest bunch of mexican guys... or any group of guys... and see what happens.

[AmthaLal]

Sad very sad, But similar incidents happens at ot of places.
This one came in light because a reporter was there.

I agree with Sane, I would not go to public place where more "footpath chhap" log gethers for celebration, with my dear ones.

There are lots of decent places to celebrate.

[padhu]

If one goes to Gateway of India, Chowpatty or Juhu beach on news year night with a girl is asking for trouble. Sad though but a learning curve for some people.

[echarcha]

In on ehte 60 minutes episodes, they showed that a group of men groped a woman in Central Park, NY after a parade. The parade was organised by folks with origins from some South American country. At that time, there was complete video footage taken by a passerby and he then turned it over the cops. Later he turned it over to 60 minutes show when the cops did not take any action. 5 to 6 police officers were suspended by the then Mayor Guiliani.

[echarcha]

Originally Posted by echarcha

In on ehte 60 minutes episodes, they showed that a group of men groped a woman in Central Park, NY after a parade. The parade was organised by folks with origins from some South American country. At that time, there was complete video footage taken by a passerby and he then turned it over the cops. Later he turned it over to 60 minutes show when the cops did not take any action. 5 to 6 police officers were suspended by the then Mayor Guiliani.

Here is the link

http://www.newnation.org/Archives/NNN-centralpark.html

[Desi24]

Originally Posted by Sane Less

I just cannot see why my dear fellow echans are surprised. I would have done the same as any of these 60-70 odd fellows did... if I did not have any girlfriend that night nor had one for years before that. This is a night for fun... specially if I go to a public place. And if I did not have a girlfriend... and I see a beautiful girl in the midst... don't know... I wouldn't be able to control myself.

You are a sicko.....

[dirty]

sad but simple fact. when you are a girl in skirt in a place where you expect many drunk men, try to avoid crowded places or getting crowded in. Its not like the crowd descended on her. She must be standing in the crowd before someone started pushing and suddenly everyone started taking advantage of the situation.
Anyone who lives or has lived in Bombay knows a little jostling in the crowd creates bug waves. Same thing must have happened. She should have stayed indoors or at least away from crowd in her car.

[echarcha]

Originally Posted by dirty

sad but simple fact. when you are a girl in skirt in a place where you expect many drunk men, try to avoid crowded places or getting crowded in. Its not like the crowd descended on her. She must be standing in the crowd before someone started pushing and suddenly everyone started taking advantage of the situation.
Anyone who lives or has lived in Bombay knows a little jostling in the crowd creates bug waves. Same thing must have happened. She should have stayed indoors or at least away from crowd in her car.

I agree that a bunch of drunk men can behave like this whether its Mumbai or Central Park, New York.

However, the girl also has a right to enjoy the festivities and should not have to worry about such nonsense. YEt, as dirty says, common-sense is a must in such situations. You cannot change the way drunk men behave and the cops aren't doing anything about it anyways . So best course of action is to steer clear of such crowds.

I feel sorry for the girl and hope the boyfriend wisens up.