TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: The man accused of molesting a 25-year-old by dragging her into the bushes, and getting thwarted in his attempt to disrobe her by a house in the neighborhood putting on its lights after hearing her screams was given bail almost immediately, raising the family to question the seriousness of the authorities to crack down on assaults against women despite all the lip service.
It may be recalled that till date the man who sexually assaulted a seven year old is at large with the police refusing to answer any questions, forcing civil society to question the motive behind the iron curtain drawn over the case.
In this case the family alleged that the lax police investigation and the bailable provisions used has resulted in the victim of being put under pressure from the accusers family besides the accused alleging that the victim she was drunk, apparently in a bid to malign the victim before the case goes to trial.
The police, even though the women was dragged into the bushes, thrown to the ground, and the accused was in the process of disrobing her till he was interrupted, have booked the accused under sections 354 (molestation) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) of the Indian Penal Code and defend themselves against the quick bail, saying that the sections booked are bailable.
“He hid himself at his sister’s house after the incident. Their house is also located in the same vicinity. They blamed my wife of being drunk and threatened of consequences,” a close relative of the victim alleged.
It may be recalled that a 24-year-old domestic help was dragged into the bushes, thrown to the ground by a 23-year-old youth who attempted to disrobe her till her screams alerted a good Samaritan who switched on his house lights, thwarting the sexual assault at a prominent, high profile area in Dona Paula on the evening of January 21. According to the relative, the victim was returning home after completing her work when the incident happened.
“Before reaching home, she visited our friend’s place who stays closeby. While walking to our house, the man caught hold of her, dragged her and threw her on the ground,” he said, adding that his wife sustained bruises on the face.
