MUMBAI: Two Vasai traffic cops, a Central Industrial Safety Force (CISF) jawan, a State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) personnel, and two government employees were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly molesting and abducting an 18-year-old nursing student from Devgad taluka in Sindhudurg district as she returned home from college.
On Thursday, the MiraBhayander Vasai-Virar Commissionerate suspended Vasai traffic constables Hariram Githe (34) and Praveen Ranade (33) for failing to perform their duties and degrading the police force’s reputation.
Hariram, Praveen, Madhav Kendre (32), Shyam Githe (32), Satva Kendre (32), and Shankar Githe(33), who were driving to Goa in an SUV rented from Vasai, were allegedly intoxicated at the time of the incident.
According to a source, the SUV was impounded, and the six guys underwent medical testing to determine the alcohol content in their blood.
The six men who were not in uniform had taken their leave. According to the teenager’s accusation, Hariram stopped the SUV near the bus depot in Jamsande village around 5.30pm and approached her under the pretext of asking for an address. Despite the girl’s attempts to leave, Hariram pursued her and made vulgar remarks, urging that she accompany him to Vasai.
The scenario became more heated when the other five guys exited the SUV, and one of them allegedly instructed the others to put her inside. They grabbed her hand and dragged her to the SUV. The adolescent sounded an alarm, attracting the attention of passers-by, who surrounded the SUV and beat up the males. The accused were forced to crouch on the road before being brought to the police station.
