In a swift police operation, a 17-year-old boy was detained for the alleged sexual assault of a 22-year-old woman in Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai. The incident, which has sent shockwaves through the community, occurred in the early hours of December 18.
The Ghansoli Chawl Incident: A Harrowing Account
According to the complaint filed by the victim, the terrifying ordeal began around 2 am on Tuesday, December 18. The woman was fast asleep in her chawl residence when an unidentified teenager allegedly gained entry in a brazen manner. The accused reportedly sneaked into the house through the toilet by removing glass panels and then broke the lower part of the locked toilet door.
Awakened by the noise, the woman was confronted by the intruder. The complainant stated that the teenager threatened her with a knife, gagged her, and then sexually assaulted her. After the assault, the accused fled through the main door, bolting it from the outside, leaving the victim trapped inside her own home.
Swift Police Action Leads to Detention
Senior Inspector Balkrushna Sawant of Rabale police station provided details of the investigation. The victim's medical examination confirmed the sexual assault, leading to the immediate registration of a First Information Report (FIR). The accused was booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for punishment for rape, house trespass, wrongful confinement, and intentional insult to provoke breach of peace, along with the Maharashtra Police Act.
Inspector Sawant credited the rapid resolution to key clues from the victim and coordinated police work. "The complainant provided a description of the accused's appearance and clothes and mentioned he threatened her in Hindi," said Sawant. Using this information, teams from crime branch units 1, 2, and Central scoured through CCTV footage from area streets.
Within just six hours of the complaint, the police tracked down and apprehended the suspect under the Ghansoli flyover on the Thane-Belapur road on Friday. The investigation revealed that the teenager earns a living by rag-picking and often takes shelter under the same flyover. The victim positively identified him, after which he confessed to the crime.
Legal Proceedings and Juvenile Justice
Since the accused is a minor, he was not formally arrested but detained under due legal process. He was produced before the Bhiwandi Juvenile Court, which ordered his remand to a juvenile shelter home in Bhiwandi. The case highlights the procedures followed under the Juvenile Justice Act when the accused is below 18 years of age, focusing on rehabilitation alongside accountability.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of individuals, especially women living alone in chawl accommodations. The Rabale police's prompt action in solving the case within a short timeframe has been noted, but it also underscores the need for heightened security measures in residential areas.
