Mumbai Crime: Rape survivor helps cops nab 'dukaan wala uncle'

The accused Mohammed Haroon Iqbal Ansari. Pic credit/Hanif Patel

The three words 'dukaan wala uncle' uttered by a 15-year-old rape survivor to a policeman led to the conviction of a 27-year-old man who has been given life imprisonment with a fine of Rs 10,000. The mentally challenged girl was raped by Mohammed Haroon Iqbal Ansari at his shop in Andheri East in February 2015.

However, the case was registered at DN Nagar police station months later after Cooper hospital informed cops that a minor girl was four months pregnant and hospitalised.

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"The girl was not able to recall who the accused is but said 'Dukaan wala uncle'. We formed several teams and scanned all shops in nearby areas. During identification parade, the survivor identified Ansari," said Parmeshwar Ganme, senior inspector of DN Nagar police station.

On Saturday, the Addl. Sessions judge Mrs. M.A Baraliya sentenced the accused with rigorous life imprisonment under Section 376 (2) of the IPC and section 06 of POCSO Act. The court in its order stated, "The accused is sentenced to suffer Rigorous Imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of accused's natural life and to pay a fine of Rs.10,000 under Section 376(2) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. In default of payment of fine, he is further sentenced to suffer Rigorous Imprisonment for two months. On realization of fine amount, same be paid over to the victim girl as compensation, after the appeal period is over."

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