A man with a history of rape and other crimes allegedly attempted to rape a 14-year-old girl in Maharashtra’s Thane district, but the courageous teenager managed to fend him off, according to police reports on Thursday.
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening in the Kalyan area while the girl was returning home from tuition classes. Inspector Dinkar Karde from Kolsewadi police station informed reporters that the accused, Vishal Gawli, was arrested after his heinous attempt.
Following the incident, Rupali Chakankar, chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSCW), demanded action from the state home minister through a tweet. An FIR was registered under the relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
According to the official, the accused waylaid the girl while she was going home, dragging her to a roadside in an attempt to rape her. However, the brave girl raised an alarm and managed to escape from the spot to save herself. She immediately informed her parents about the incident, leading to a complaint being lodged with the Kolsewadi police.
The accused, Vishal Gawli, has a prior record of several cases involving rape, molestation, and other offenses. In her tweet, MSCW chairperson Rupali Chakankar emphasized the severity of the charges against him and expressed concerns about the local police’s functioning, questioning why he was still free despite being externed.
Chakankar called on behalf of the commission for the home minister of the state to take note of the situation and take action against the accused and any others involved. Additionally, she tagged Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who oversees the home department.
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