22-year-old photojournalist gang-raped in Mumbai, undergoes surgery

In yet another gruesome assault exposing how vulnerable women are in the city, a 22-year-old intern working as a photojournalist at a magazine was gang-raped on Thursday evening by five men at Shakti Mills compound in Mahalaxmi.

Around 6 pm, she had gone to the spot on an assignment accompanied by a male colleague.

When they were taking photos, two of the accused approached them and asked them to take permission from their "superiors". She was led into a secluded area, while her colleague waited outside.

Shakti Mills at Mahalaxmi near famous studio, where the female photojournalist was gang-raped by 5 men on Thursday. Pics/SAYED SAMEER ABEDIu00a0

While the duo led her away, the other three tied up her colleague with a rope and went back to join the others. All five of them then took turns raping her for half an hour.

After the accused fled the spot, she scrambled outside to find her friend tied up. The traumatised victim freed him, and he then took her to Jaslok Hospital on Peddar Road.

The victim has identified two of the accused by their names, Rupesh and Sajid, since they were calling each other during the crime. The NM Joshi Marg police have also rounded up all the drug addicts from the locality, which is infamous for such activities.

The victim is under observation in the ICU. Preliminary reports say that she has sustained multiple internal injuries.

The woman photojournalist underwent surgery Friday, said a spokesperson for the Jaslok Hospital where she was admitted.

"She has been under treatment since last night. She underwent a minor surgical procedure today (Friday) and now her condition has improved and stabilized. We expect a speedy recovery," the spokesperson told mediapersons here this evening.

Mumbai Police team search for evidence inside Shakti Mills compound at Mahalaxmi.u00a0Pic/SAYED SAMEER ABEDI

The Crime Branch is conducting a probe in the incident. All the police officials in the area have been deployed to comb the locality for the accused.u00a0

At the time of going to press, police were recording the victim's statement at Jaslok Hospital.