NDTV News
The shocking pictures of two young women being molested by a mob of 70 to 80 men at Mumbai's Juhu area in the early hours of New Year's Day, has ashamed the city.
Mumbai, Jan 2: The women, one in a black dress and the other in a jeans and top emerged from the JW Marriott with two male friends around 1:45 am, and began walking towards Juhu beach close by.
A mob of about 40 got after them and began teasing the women when one of the women swore loudly at the hooligans. But the mob, now 70-80 strong, wouldn't let go.
They trapped the women near a vehicle and a tree, and pounced on them. A man in a white shirt tore off the black dress. Another, in a blue shirt, led the assault.
As the women fell on the ground, dozens of men jumped on them.
These pictures were taken by two Hindustan Times lensmen, who alerted the police.
Archana Tyagi, Additional Commissioner of Police, Mumbai said, ''I have seen reports today in Hindustan Times. We will certainly take action. HT didn't show me the pictures yesterday. It happened on 31st night. I got in touch with the girls, they are not from Mumbai and not in Mumbai. We will take action as soon as possible.''
The police said that they will register a suo moto complaint on the case.
Meanwhile, Mumbai's top cop, Commissioner D N Jadhav feels that the incident is being blown out of proportion and that the police did whatever they could to rescue the girls. The commissioner also said that molestation can happen anywhere.
The state's Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil made a statement saying, that the police chief's reaction was inappropriate and that the government was taking the matter seriously.
There is strong reaction from the people on the incident. ''Mumbai is heading towards being the Delhi jungle, where women are attacked every hour. Even if there is no complaint from the girls, police should take action immediately. I am ashamed to live in a city, where there is disrespect all around,'' said adman Alyque Padamse.
''Women in Mumbai are not safe. We have always been asking for an increase in women police force because Mumbai is so crowded and so many people are coming from various places, I think security should be beefed up,'' said Dr Shubha Raul, Mumbai Mayor.
Exactly a year ago in the otherwise known to be safe city, a girl was molested by New Year Eve revellers at the Gateway of India.
Marriott distances itself
The hotel J W Marriott, which the two women had reportedly just left before being attacked by the mob, has distanced itself from the incident.
In a statement the hotel strongly objected to being dragged into the controversy and asserted that the incident did not take place outside the hotel, but closer to a school further down the road.
In fact the hotel added that an assistant commissioner of police was at the hotel along with the staff supervising.
The statement said, ''Whilst we understand that Mariott Mumbai is one of the most important landmarks in the vicinity we strongly disapprove the loose mention of our hotel in this very unfortunate incident.''
Defending its own arrangements the hotel said it had tripled its security for New Years Eve and advised its guests to stay off the streets.