Residents of Alidada Estate in Shramik Nagar, Kurla, are scared to send their children to school after a nine-year-old girl from the locality was found raped and murdered on the terrace of a police colony building, about a kilometre away, on Sunday.
The entire area wore a deserted look on Monday as most of the children stayed indoors. Rashmi (not her real name) had gone out to play after returning from her tuition classes on Saturday when she went missing. “We did not allow our children to go out of the house to play,” a resident said. “We do not want any such thing to happen to them. Though children cannot understand what has actually happened, they can sense something is wrong.”
Rashmi’s neighbour, who did not want to be named, said they did not know how long they would stop their children from going out to play. “But this is the only thing we can do to save our kids.”
After Rashmi’s body was found, residents of the area had gathered at the police station to protest against the incident. Several people alleged that such incidents happened because the police had failed to take precautionary steps. Shops in the area were shut on Sunday as a mark of protest.
Nearly two weeks ago, Coro, an NGO working in Shivaji Nagar, Bainganwadi, and Govandi, had protested in front of the deputy commissioner’s office in Chembur against the failure of the police to stop rapes. A member of the NGO said that at least eight minors from the area had been raped in the past two-and-a-half months.
On Monday, policemen from the east region held several meetings with people from Kurla and nearby areas. The police first met the principals of all schools in the area. The police told them that students should avoid talking or going anywhere with strangers. Even if they know the person, they should not go with him without informing their parents.
The police also met social activists, NGOs, and mohalla committee members. “We have also roped in members of police housing society,” DCP Dilip Sawant said. “They have been told to keep a watch on people entering their buildings.”
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