One of Shakti Mills accused molested a TB patient three days earlier, was let off

If Siraj alias Sarju Khan had been arrested by the Agripada police on August19 for allegedly kidnapping and molesting a 45-year-old woman outside a public toilet in Dhobi Ghat, the August 22 gang rape of a photojournalist could have probably been averted. Siraj is one of the five accused who violated and brutalised the young professional inside the abandoned Shakti Mills in Mahalaxmi, an act that has shaken the conscience of the entire nation.

Narrating the spine-chilling incident, the daughter of the victim said, “The incident took place at around 1.30am on August 19. My mother, who was suffering from TB, went to the nearby public toilet. Taking advantage of the darkness and finding no one around, an inebriated Siraj Khan pulled my mother behind the toilet and tried to rape her. My mother screamed for help but no one from the area woke up to rescue her,” she said, adding, “I heard her screams and rushed to the toilet. I confronted Khan and managed to rescue my mother from the clutches of Khan, who hurled invectives at me and also threatened me.

I then contacted the Agripada police twice on phone and informed them about the incident. But the police did not visit the spot. Then, my mother and I went to the police station and narrated the incident. The police did nab Khan but let him go at around 8am on August 20 after giving him a thrashing.”

After the incident, her mother’s condition worsened and she was admitted to Kasturba Hospital, where she passed away on August 27. “We had not registered a case against Khan then, but did that on September 4,” said the 16-year-old girl.