Angry villagers protest attempted rape of five-year-old in Nashik

Protestors burnt vehicles on the highway after the attempted rape; Police investigate the site

Angry villagers burnt vehicles and blocked roads to Nashik after the attempted rape of a five-year-old girl yesterday. The protest that started on Sunday afternoon was on till late evening, and the Nashik rural police and traffic police were trying to control the situation. The protests and rasta roko led to a huge traffic jam on the Mumbai-Nashik-Mumbai route. Sources from the highway traffic department said that the routes into Nashik and out from the city were completely blocked. The attempted rape by a teenager, was in Talegaon village. Locals want him arrested.

Sequence of events
The 16-year-old boy was detained by the Trimbakeshwar police station in the case. The alleged incident took place on Saturday and the minor accused was detained on Sunday. A case has been registered at Trimbakeshwar police station in Nashik rural police under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code and different sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

Also Read: Tension high in Nashik after teenage boy tries to rape 5-year-old girl

Ajay Shankeshwari, Senior Police Inspector, Highway Traffic Police, Nashik Division said, "The rasta roko started on Sunday afternoon around 12:15pm near Gonde and Waloli villages which are on the way in Nashik rural area on NH3. The protest went on for more than two hours. It was brought under control and later around 4 pm, it started again at Kauti village. The three villages are at Wadiware in Nashik rural area."

State buses torched
"Two of our buses on the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar route were burnt, but no passenger or staff was injured. We are running buses on the same route now with police protection," said the spokesperson for MSRTC.

Bal Malkit Singh, former president of All India Motor Transport Congress said, "The Mumbai-Nashik highway is one of the busiest roads in India, as it connects Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh to the northern and eastern parts of the country. On an average, every day, 50,000 trucks and trailers ply on this route. Because of this protest the traffic jam will not be cleared for 24 to 30 hours and due to this, each truck faces a loss of Rs 3,500 per day."

Maratha Samaj protest in Mumbai postponed
The Sakal Maratha Samaj, organiser of the silent marches by Maratha community, has postponed a protest in Mumbai. The organisers had a difference of opinion on holding a march in Mumbai for various reasons. A section of Marathas wanted it in October, while others wanted it after Diwali. The Samaj said on Sunday that they would protest in the state capital only when the government fails to meet demands. Instead it was decided to take out a massive march in Nagpur on December 14 when a winter session of the state legislature will be on, said organisers in Aurangabad on Sunday. In Nagpur, the protesters will walk to the CM's official residence in Civil Lines.