Class 10 girl’s molestation sparks public fury in Surat

Surat: Alleged sexual harassment of a Class 10 girl sent people's tempers flaring in the Althan area, keeping the locality on edge throughout Friday night and Saturday afternoon.The 38-year-old accused was allegedly thrashed twice by angry residents — first when locals caught him soon after the incident, and again on Saturday when police brought him to the crime spot for a panchnama.According to police, the incident occurred around 8.30pm on Friday when the teenager was returning home on her moped after attending coaching classes. She was travelling from Sentosa Heights towards Viona Apartment on Althan-Bhimrad Road when the accused, identified as Aziz Shaikh, followed her on another moped and sexually harassed her on the way.As the harassment took place in public view, nearby residents intervened and caught hold of Sheikh. An enraged crowd thrashed him before handing him over to a police patrol team that reached the spot soon after receiving information.Police then took the accused into custody and registered an FIR in the presence of the victim's parents and her teacher.News of the incident quickly spread in the area, leading thousands of residents to the Althan police station late on Friday night. Police had to use mild force to disperse sections of the crowd as tempers ran high.On Saturday noon, police took the accused to Althan-Bhimrad Road for a panchnama at the crime scene. By the time the police team arrived, hundreds of residents had already gathered along the road and outside nearby buildings after learning about the police movement in advance. Within minutes, the crowd swelled further, with people shouting slogans and questioning women's safety.Some people from the crowd managed to break through the security cordon and punched and kicked him. Police personnel quickly intervened and tried to shield the accused from beating while struggling to complete the panchnama amid the tense situation. Some protesters also allegedly pelted stones at the police team.More than 100 police personnel were deployed to control the crowd and prevent escalation.DCP Nidhi Thakur said the accused has been booked under sections 75(2) (sexual harassment) and 78(2) (stalking) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.Shaikh, a resident of Bardoli who works at an embroidery unit in Bhestan, was produced before a court on Saturday and remanded to two days of police custody for further investigation. Police said efforts are underway to collect CCTV footage from the route where the incident allegedly took place.
Get real-time updates and result insights on the UBSE UK Board Results 2026 and CBSE 12th Result 2026