Police in Surat's Udhna area have arrested a 20-year-old man for allegedly sexually assaulting a series of women during their early morning walks. The accused, identified as Vikas Nishad, would reportedly target women, touch them inappropriately from his motorcycle, and speed away.
Modus Operandi and Arrest Details
The case came to light after a 35-year-old woman filed a formal complaint with the Udhna police. She stated that the assault occurred around 5:30 AM on Friday while she was walking with a friend towards the Rani of Jhansi Garden. Udhna police inspector S N Desai confirmed that using CCTV footage from the area, the police team traced and apprehended the accused from Radha Krishna Society in the Pandesara area.
During the investigation, a disturbing pattern emerged. According to the police, Nishad would wake up daily around 4:30 AM and leave his home specifically to find targets. He would ride his motorcycle around public gardens, approach women from behind, touch them, and then swiftly flee the scene. In a brazen act, he would often take a U-turn to observe the reactions of his traumatized victims.
Confession and Further Victims
Upon interrogation, Vikas Nishad confessed to having engaged in this predatory behavior for the past ten days. A search of his mobile phone revealed hundreds of searches for pornographic content. Following the news of his arrest, five more women courageously came forward to report being victimized in a similar manner, confirming the serial nature of the crimes.
Background and Legal Action
Nishad, a native of Ramnagar village in Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh, worked as a helper in a studio that creates posters for the garment industry in Surat. With multiple complaints now registered against him, the Udhna police are taking stringent action. They are preparing to move a Prevention of Anti-Social Activities (PASA) proposal to ensure he remains in jail. The police have also conducted a reconstruction of the crime with the accused present at the scene.
This incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of women in public spaces during early hours, even in areas commonly used for exercise and leisure like gardens. The police have assured the public of increased vigilance.
