Police release sketches of 5 accused in scribe gangrape case

Mumbai Police today released sketches of five accused in the shocking gangrape case of a 23-year-old photojournalist here and picked up about 20 people for questioning besides fanning out teams across the city to track the culprits.

A day after the photojournalist, who was working as an intern with an English magazine was gangraped allegedly by five men, a special squad has been formed by the local police as well as by the Crime Branch to probe the case.

"We have taken the case very seriously and are working on it on a war-footing. We have activated all our informers and at the same time released sketches of the five accused. We hope to catch the accused soon," said a police official.

The sketches have been prepared on the basis of the description provided by the victim's male colleague, who was tied up by the accused before they sexually assaulted the woman.

The woman was allegedly gangraped by five men at around 8 PM yesterday near Shakti Mills in Lower Parel area of the metropolis.

The victim was on an assignment, doing a story on 'chawl' when the offence took place, police said.

In a chilling reminder of the December gangrape in Delhi, the men tied up the victim's friend and raped the woman.

The accused were apparently in 24 to 30 years age group.

Police are likely to parade about 20 suspects, who have been picked up in connection with the case, before the male colleague of the victim for identification, sources said.

Earlier, police said they have picked up about 20 people for questioning but obtained no leads in the case so far.

In a statement given to police, the girl said the five goons were present in the Shakti Mills compound. They started making lewd remarks and harassed her. When her friend intervened, two of them assaulted him. Three others took her inside the dilapidated structure and raped her.

The victim has been admitted to Jaslok Hospital. Preliminary reports suggested that she sustained multiple internal injuries, they said.

Dr Taran Gyanchandani, acting CEO of the hospital, said, "We are doing the needful...She is under strict observation."

A gangrape case has been registered in N M Joshi Marg police station.