A 22-year-old magazine photojournalist was allegedly gang raped by five men Thursday evening in one of the Indian city's upmarket areas.
The woman, who police have not identified, was visiting an abandoned mill with a male colleague for a magazine photo assignment. The two were on their way back at around 8 p.m. when they were accosted by five men on a deserted street. The men allegedly tied up the woman's male companion, and took turns raping her.
The woman was taken to a hospital by her friend at 10 p.m. Reports say she sustained multiple internal injuries but her condition is said to be stable.
She revealed the first names of two of the alleged rapists, Rupesh and Sajid, who she said were calling out to each other while raping her.
In a statement to the police the victim said the five men 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 the woman inside the dilapidated structure and raped her.
The mill compound where the incident occurred is infamous for drug addicts. Police officials are combing the area for suspects.
Mumbai rape: girl was returning after an assignment with a male friend. He was overpowered and tied up. She was then gang raped.
Sachin Kalbag
@SachinKalbag
Mumbai rape: girl was returning after an assignment with a male friend. He was overpowered and tied up. She was then gang raped.
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Nine men rounded up so far in the gang rape of the Mumbai photojournalist. She will be soon asked to identify her assailants
Abhijit Majumder
@abhijitmajumder
Nine men rounded up so far in the gang rape of the Mumbai photojournalist. She will be soon asked to identify her assailants
/ ViaThe area where the incident occurred is famous in Mumbai for its malls and nightlife. It is also close to Famous Studios where Bollywood movies and shows are shot.
A gang rape in mumbai in lower parel? In lower parel. The heart of the city. All our work places posh eateries and malls there.
Naomi Datta
@nowme_datta
A gang rape in mumbai in lower parel? In lower parel. The heart of the city. All our work places posh eateries and malls there.
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In shock re: Mumbai gang rape. Lower Parel is one of the most happening places. I've taken cabs from there, tipsy, alone, at night.
Sarika Bansal
@sarika008
In shock re: Mumbai gang rape. Lower Parel is one of the most happening places. I've taken cabs from there, tipsy, alone, at night.
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Another gang rape.. No, not Delhi it's Mumbai this time, in the heart of the city, at Lower Parel. Can't sleep ever since I got to know.
Manasi Parekh
@manasi_parekh
Another gang rape.. No, not Delhi it's Mumbai this time, in the heart of the city, at Lower Parel. Can't sleep ever since I got to know.
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Whoa! Mahalaxmi! That's the route most of us take everyday, at night, without even thinking twice. Appalling news of Gang Rape every time.
Krokodil
@Lucifer_sam666
Whoa! Mahalaxmi! That's the route most of us take everyday, at night, without even thinking twice. Appalling news of Gang Rape every time.
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Yet another rape case. Is their any place safe left for a girl in India? #lowerparel #Mumbai
Aditi
@adi25ti
Yet another rape case. Is their any place safe left for a girl in India? #lowerparel #Mumbai
/ ViaThe incident is causing shockwaves in Mumbai, a city perceived to be much safer for women than India's capital, New Delhi. A brutal gang rape in Delhi last year sparked national outrage where the 23-year-old victim died.
You don't realise how shocking these things really are till they almost happen very very close to you. #wtf #mumbai #rape
Tanushree Vaidya
@tanushreevaidya
You don't realise how shocking these things really are till they almost happen very very close to you. #wtf #mumbai #rape
/ ViaUPDATE — 2:50 a.m. ET Friday: Five suspects reportedly arrested.
All five men suspected of raping the 22-year-old photojournalist are in custody, Mumbai police announced Friday. A doctor at Jaslok Hospital said the victim is in stable condition.