Jaipur: Dholpur police arrested a 32-year-old man on Friday for allegedly sexually harassing and assaulting a divorced woman in a deserted lane while she was on her way to work in the early hours of April 11. The incident in Dholpur comes close on the heels of a similar case in Jaipur, where a pregnant woman was harassed by a history-sheeter in Malviya Nagar last month, and video of which led to the accused's arrest.
Police identified the accused as Shahid Qureshi, a resident of Kasaipada in Dholpur's Old City area. According to police, the incident occurred on April 11, and the survivor filed a First Information Report on April 15. Investigators tracked down Qureshi after piecing together CCTV footage from multiple routes and working with local human intelligence inputs.
The survivor, who works as a domestic help to support her children, told police that the accused waylaid her around 5:30 AM on April 11 in Gore Pan Wali Gali while she was heading towards Bhamtipura. He allegedly grabbed her, tried to overpower her, and assaulted her when she resisted. Her screams drew nearby residents, forcing the accused to flee.
Based on her complaint, police registered a case and launched a probe led by Head Constable Azharuddin. Superintendent of Police Vikas Sangwan said teams fanned out across the area, scanning dozens of CCTV cameras and mapping movement across adjoining lanes. Officers stated that the footage, matched with inputs from local sources, helped narrow down the suspect.
Police said that the accused was arrested after his movements matched the CCTV trail. During interrogation, he allegedly admitted to the assault and claimed he was under the influence of intoxicants at the time. Officials said the accused was identified and arrested within a week, and further investigation is underway. The police are also examining the criminal antecedents of the suspect.
