Mumbai: Brutal Assault and Rape Leaves 64-Year-Old Widow in Critical Condition

Mumbai, 20th December 2023: The Trombay police station in Mumbai has arrested a 38-year-old man identified as Umesh Gulabrao Dhok for the brutal rape and assault of a 64-year-old widow. The survivor was left unconscious near Thane Creek.

Ravindra Ranashevare, senior police inspector at Trombay police station, revealed that the accused was arrested late last night. Dhok, a resident of Shantinagar in the Mankhurd suburb of north-east Mumbai, has confessed to his heinous crime. He is now facing charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). A dedicated team has been assembled for a comprehensive investigation into the incident.

According to preliminary findings, the elderly woman was assaulted on Monday evening after visiting the local Khandoba temple in Nehru Nagar. The accused lured her to his residence in Shantinagar under the pretext of providing assistance in reaching her home.

In a horrifying turn of events, Dhok subjected the woman to a brutal rape during the night, followed by multiple attacks with a stick, resulting in severe injuries to her face, head, chest, limbs, and private parts. Subsequently, the perpetrator callously dumped her naked near his residence in the salt-pan area of Thane Creek around 5 am on Tuesday.

The victim’s plight was discovered by a compassionate local woman who found her lying unclothed and promptly provided her with a gown. The Trombay police were alerted, and a team swiftly arrived at the scene. The police managed to recover the woman’s phone, enabling them to contact her only daughter. The survivor was rushed to BMC’s Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar for medical treatment.

The victim’s daughter alleges that at least three individuals were involved in the crime, although the police have not confirmed such details. Ranashevare is leading a team of investigators, including Vijay Garud, Kiran Tambede, Sharad Nanekar, Pallavi Tayde, and others from various squads, to delve deeper into the case and trace any additional perpetrators involved.

The widow, who resides with her daughter and granddaughter, earns a livelihood by selling fish and brooms in local markets.