A security guard was arrested in Mumbai on Sunday for allegedly sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl in a restroom in the Pydhonie area of south Mumbai. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with local residents gathering outside the Pydhonie police station to demand exemplary punishment for the accused.
The girl is currently being treated at a hospital, while the accused was taken into custody soon after a complaint was lodged. The protest outside the police station was attended by hundreds of people, who called for strict action against the accused. Some protesters also surrounded Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar when he visited the police station, raising slogans and demanding justice.
The protesters briefly blocked the road outside the police station, disrupting traffic before police dispersed the crowd and restored normalcy. Heavy police deployment has been made in the area to prevent any further incidents. The incident has also sparked a call for swift justice, with NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar describing the alleged assault as ‘outrageous and extremely serious’.
Pawar claimed that the absence of swift justice in such cases has weakened the deterrence of law, and called for the speedy disposal of trials as well as the immediate implementation of the Shakti Act. The act has stringent provisions for crimes against women and children. Pawar had raised the demand during the ongoing legislature session and urged the government to act, while praying for the girl’s speedy recovery.
The incident comes soon after the sentencing in the Nasrapur case, involving the rape-murder of a three-year-old child in Pune district. In that case, a 65-year-old was convicted and handed a triple death sentence within 60 days of the crime.
