Journalist gangrape: Forensic experts examine crime spot

Forensic experts from Gujarat and Delhi today arrived here to collect the evidence at the Shakti Mills compound here where a photojournalist was gangraped six days ago.

Carrying the necessary equipment, the two teams from Central Forensic Science Laboratory and Gujarat Forensic Science Laboratory are thoroughly examining the defunct Shakti Mills compound in Parel to gather clinching evidence against the five accused, who gangraped the 23-year-old photojournalist there on August 22, police said.

Mumbai police is seeking the help of forensic experts from Gujarat and Delhi as they are more proficient in conducting such investigations, they said.

Earlier, all the five accused - Salim Ansari, Vijay Jadhav, Chand Babu Sattar Shaikh, Mohammed Kasim Hafiz Shaikh alias Kasim Bengali and Siraj Rehman Khan - were remanded in police custody.

All the five accused have been booked under various sections of IPC including 376(D) (rape), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 506(2) (criminal intimidation).

The victim had gone to the Shakti Mills premises with a colleague on August 22 evening when she was sexually assaulted, triggering nation-wide protests.

Mumbai police had also claimed that the five accused took turns to sexually assault the victim and then coerced her into cleaning the crime scene after the brutal act.

Police had also recovered from the site some broken beer bottles with which the accused had threatened the victim before gangraping her.

The fingerprints discovered on the bottle will be used as an evidence in the case, police said.

Mumbai Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh had yesterday said that the process for setting up a fast track court to try the case and appointing a prosecutor was underway and charge sheet would be filed at the earliest.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had said on Sunday that eminent criminal lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, who was the public prosecutor in the 1993 Bombay serial blasts case and 26/11 attacks case would lead the prosecution in this case.