Goons molest pregnant woman, assault hubby

Hashiya Shaikh, a woman in her eighth month of pregnancy, was allegedly molested and assaulted by a group of goons at Tardeo yesterday.

Goons molest pregnant woman, assault hubby

Hashiya Shaikh, a woman in her eighth month of pregnancy, was allegedly molested and assaulted by a group of goons at Tardeo yesterday.
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She was on her way to the clinic for a sonography, accompanied by her husband Shahbuddin Shaikh.

The Tardeo police are trying to track down a petty criminal, Imran, and his accomplices, who allegedly beat up Shahbuddin and Hashiya, when the former tried to protect his wife from the clutches of the molesters.

Hashiya was admitted to Nair Hospital and doctors said the assault caused the baby to stop breathing temporarily inside her womb

Hashiya, a resident of Annapada at Tulsiwadi, Tardeo, said that she and her husband were on their way to the doctor's clinic, when a group of men started harassing her.

"My husband was holding on to my shoulder to support me as I walked. The men began commenting snidely at what they perceived to be an obscene display of affection," said Hashiya.

"When the taunts became too distasteful, my husband took a stand and demanded that they stop their disgraceful behaviour immediately.

The men, however, continued insolently. Imran, who appeared to be their leader, called out to his cronies, who began assaulting Shaikh brutally. Some even used cricket bats."

"I could not bear to witness the brutalities they were inflicting upon my husband. I tried to intervene, but the violent men turned and attacked me.
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They began punching me, and dealt a number of blows to my stomach. Had my husband not intervened, I would have lost my child," said Hashiya, who sustained a number of injuries .

Case registered

After the men fled, the couple approached the Tardeo police station and filed a complaint against the goons.
"We have registered a case of molestation and assault against Imran and his accomplices.

They had fled by the time we tracked down their lodgings. We are on the lookout for them," said Ramesh Gadade, senior police inspector, Tardeo police station.

"The couple has been sent for a medical examination and treatment," added Gadade.