Rickshaw driver booked for molesting college girl

Rickshaw drivers in the area are becoming notorious for the way they have been behaving towards women. On Thursday (March 6), a student on her way to college was molested by a rickshaw driver at Naupada. In the past too there have been cases of drivers molesting students.

Around 6.20am on Thursday, a rickshaw driver, Rajesh Abbaji Ahwad, 32, stalked a girl who was on her way to her college. She was walking on the footpath. He followed her for some time, then overtook her when she reached near the Naik lane at Naupada, Thane (west). He then turned back and facing the girl, unzipped his pants and exposed his private parts. He then called out to her and gesticulated in a vulgar manner.

The stunned girl ran from the spot up to her house and narrated what had happened to her mother. Her parents later filed a complaint at the Naupada police station. Around 10.40am the police caught the culprit.

Investigation officer AP Daundhkar said: "We have registered a case of molestation and the accused has been arrested. One should inform the police immediately when such incidents take place."

The accused has been booked under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).