To Escape Molester, Girl Jumps From 3rd-Floor Building Terrace

An act of molestation on a minor girl led her to jump off a three-story building. The incident happened on April 3, in Nalasopara, Mumbai.

The incident occurred when a man asked the girl about an address and then tried to molest her.  The terrified girl fractured her waist and thighs after the jump, reported TOI. 

In her statement to the Tuling police, the girl said that the incident occurred around 12:30 pm when she was walking outside her building in Nalasopara (East). A man in his 30s stopped his bike and enquired about an address in the neighbourhood. When she pointed out the building, he asked her to help him locate the flat.

As the girl accompanied him, the man forcibly took her to the building's open terrace. Soon after, he tried to undress her. She tried escaping by running off to the ledge. As per the statements of the eyewitnesses, the girl was seen on the ledge around 1 pm. Consequently, a crowd gathered and asked her not to jump.

Also: Zeenat Aman Files Molestation Case Against Businessman

Witnesses' statements

One of the witnesses, Irshad Khan, told TOI that they could notice the girl looking behind and making some gestures. However, it was impossible to see anyone else from below. As the girl denied their requests to step back, the crowd pulled off the hood of an autorickshaw (made of PVC-coated polyester fabric) and spread it out. The girl jumped and landed on the hood.

Another person, who witnessed the incident, stated that the 12-year-old girl was later rushed to a hospital in another auto-rickshaw. He too, mentioned that no one except the girl was visible on the terrace from below. The entire incident occurred in a span of 10 minutes.

The accused has been booked under IPC sections 363 (kidnapping) and 354(B) (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) and under sections 8, 12 of the Pocso Act.

The police are now waiting for the girl to recover before a sketch of the suspect is made.