Cops nab auto driver for molestation

Naupada police in Thane have arrested an auto-rickshaw driver and his friend for alleged kidnapping and molesting a 23 year-old woman in his rickshaw last week. When the woman had protested, the duo had thrown her out of the running auto. The incident had created a huge uproar in Thane.

Co-passenger Santosh Namdev Lokhande, 38, and Lahoo Ghogare, 39, the auto driver were arrested under sections 363 (kidnapping), 354 (molestation), 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 506 (2)
(criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

On June 7, the victim, a dietitian, had boarded an auto from Mulund Check Naka and was on her way to her Ghodbunder residence when a co-passenger allegedly touched her and when the woman protested, the auto driver diverted his vehicle at Pokhran Road No 2. The accused later molested the woman and damaged her cellphone before throwing her out of the rickshaw. The woman had later approached the police.

“Sketch of the suspects were released and a crack team was formed. More than 2,000 autos in the city were examined,” said a Naupada police officer.