Using sign language, Unit XII of the Mumbai Crime Branch gleaned information from a mentally challenged woman about her assailant, after which he was traced and arrested on Thursday.
According to Crime Branch officers, the victim, who is 23 years old, lives with her family in Kurar in Malad. On January 9, she complained of a stomach ache and when her mother took her to a doctor, she was found to be four months pregnant. Her mother registered an FIR against unknown persons with the Kurar police station, and Unit XII took up the case for parallel investigation.
Previous experience
Officers said that police inspector Sachin Gawas and woman constable Ashwini Deolekar were tasked with speaking to the victim, who was admitted to the JJ Hospital. The two police officials had last year worked on a case involving a mentally challenged victim in Dindoshi, during which time they had sought guidance from professionals on dealing with such victims.
Through patient interactions over several days, they won the victim’s confidence, whose psychological growth is not beyond that of a seven-year-old child.
“The victim, while talking to the officials about the assault, kept touching her hair. When she did this frequently, we suspected it might have something to do with her assailant. After trying several other possibilities, Mr. Gawas made a sign with his fingers signifying a pair of scissors, to which the woman nodded vigorously. Using the same sign language, we were able to ascertain that the accused is a barber,” a police officer who was part of the investigation said.
Tracing the accused
Another team led by assistant police inspector Atul Avhad obtained information about all saloons near the victim’s residence and that one of them had employed a barber identified as Khurshid Kasar (24), who had been missing for the last three months. Mr. Kasar’s employer told the police that he had left saying he was going to his home town and never returned. The police further found out that he would often visit commercial sex workers.
With the help of cellular location mapping and human intelligence, the police found that he was currently staying in Virar. He was picked up on Thursday and taken to the Unit XII office where, on being questioned, he allegedly broke down and confessed to the crime.
The confession
“The accused said that four months ago, he spotted the victim while she was on her way to the local grocery store. He convinced her to go with him to a secluded spot and forced himself on her. He later got scared of being caught, and fled the area,” the officer said. Mr. Kasar and handed over to the Kurar police. He has been charged with rape under the Indian Penal Code and has been remanded in police custody till January 23, the officers said.
