Citizens pull up police in Baner attack case

Residents of vicinity accompany survivor, her family to meet CP, area cops, demanding that IPC section 370 be applied, putting forth other plaints. Top cop assures that steps are being taken

The rapid bail acquired by two youths after they groped and thrashed a 25-year-old woman in Baner late night last weekend has opened a can of worms. Almost after a week after the incident, several citizens claim they have many unanswered questions. Seeking answers to these, residents of Baner and nearby areas accompanied the survivor and her family on Friday as they met Pune commissioner of police K Venkatesham.

In a written application submitted to the CP and at Chaturshringi police station, under whose limits the assault took place, it has been requested by the woman and her family that cops take a relook into the case, claiming that the offences they registered are incorrect.

Raising her concerns, the survivor’s mother told Venkatesham, “Despite the clear mental and physical trauma of my daughter that night, there was no sensitivity shown by the cops at the PS. When she was narrating her ordeal to the in-charge while lodging the first information report (FIR), the accused and their friends sat around, intimidating her. No cops present asked those men to leave. Further, the accused sat at the PS laughing and enjoying themselves — after doing something so appalling.” Now, she insists that the FIR be revisited and section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) also be added to it. She asserted, “They tried to lift a huge pot and hit her on the head with it. If her friend had not reached on time, she may have been killed.”

Meanwhile, the woman who survived the assault says her belief in the system is intact, as she has been assured by the CP that justice will be granted to her. “The commissioner has said he will personally look into this matter, and cross-check closedcircuit television (CCTV) footage and evidence to check if IPC section 307 is applicable in my case. They are also running background checks on the accused to take stringent action,” the young animal activist shared.

Another important concern of the family was the absence of any female cop on the spot and the delayed response time (it took police over 20 minutes to reach the scene of the crime after they were called, in the wee hours of Sunday). Now, the woman, her family and her friends believe their lives could be in danger, following a threat by the accused.

Taking cognisance, the CP told the family that such an incident will not recur, and the Baner case will be looked into, with any loopholes on part of the police being plugged. Elaborating on the litany of steps being taken to ensure the same, Venkatesham told Mirror, “We will be firm with antisocial elements. Both men are on our radar — we are keeping an eye on them. We are also taking a few precautionary measures to ensure that this remains an isolated incident. A hotspot analysis of places where such incidents are prone to occur is being undertaken. We have asked societies to keep multiple CCTV cameras on their premises to capture such activities on roads as well. Increased patrolling is also on our agenda and sensitive areas will be on our watch more frequently now. Private security guards are also being spoken to, and our officers will be guiding them about the right way to deal with such situations.”