Four held for Mumbai journalist's gangrape

Four people have been detained for the alleged gangrape of a woman photojournalist in an abandoned mill compound late Thursday, police said here Friday.

The 22-year old woman, who suffered grievous internal injuries, has been admitted to the Jaslok Hospital along with her colleague who was brutally thrashed. Both are in a state of shock.

The incident came barely five days after an American woman was attacked and robbed in a suburban local train, raising questions over the safety and security of women in the city.

According to police, the woman who works for an English magazine was on a shooting assignment in the Shakti Mills compound at Mahalaxmi around 7 p.m. Thursday. She was accompanied by her male colleague.

Around that time, about five unidentified people accosted them and thrashed the male colleague, and later tied him up.

They grabbed the victim, and at least three of them raped her in turns.

Her fervent cries for help went unheard in the sprawling, deserted mill compound. The men fled after committing the crime.

The police have formed special teams to probe the incident.

Taking serious note of the incident, which is yet another assault on a media person in the state, the Mumbai Press Club and other media and social organisations plan to protest at the Hutatma Chowk in south Mumbai Friday.