Mumbai Mirror

Ruchita Shah has just reached Phoenix Mills compound when she calls her family. While she is talking, three youth approach her and begin harassing her 

Mumbai, Nov 8: Three unknown assailants stabbed a 25-year-old woman in broad daylight and escaped with her mobile phone outside Phoenix Mills compound on Monday.

Ruchita Chandrakant Shah, an interior designer who lives in Walkeshwar, was on her way to shop at Big Bazaar where her mother and sister-in-law were waiting for her

After reaching the main gate of the mills compound shortly after 2 pm, Ruchita called her family to check where they were. While she was talking, three youth, about 20-25 years of age, came towards her and began harassing her, Ruchita said.

“When I resisted, one of them brandished a knife and threatened to kill me,” she told the cops. She then started screaming for help. When a few shoppers and passers-by came to her rescue, the man with the knife slashed her thighs a couple of times and escaped with her mobile phone worth Rs 15,000, she added. 

By the time, her family rushed to the scene and took her to a private hospital where she was treated. They then lodged a complaint at the N M Joshi Marg police station.

According to Assistant  Inpector P Pardhi of the police station, when the youths saw a Sardarji running towards the girl screaming at them, they tried snatching Ruchita’s phone. When she resisted, they slashed her thighs with a knife that made her loosen her grip on the phone and she fell on the floor.

The trio then got into a cab and sped off, an eyewitness told the cops. “We think the taxi driver was not an accomplice and must have been threatened with the knife to help them get away from the crime scene,” said Pardhi.

The young men seemed like they came from lower middle class families and were looking to make some easy money, he said. “They could be petty thieves waiting to catch an unsuspecting, vulnerable victim in the quiet hours of the afternoon,” said the officer.

Ruchita has deep wounds on her thighs and is recuperating at a private hospital. After the incident, the police say they will increase patrolling in the area.