Mumbai gang-rape case: 'Most depraved' of suspects found

Mumbai: Nearly 60 hours after a young photojournalist and her male colleague were assaulted and she was raped in the heart of Mumbai, the police have found the man they describe as the "most depraved" among the gang of five that allegedly assaulted her. He allegedly was the most violent of the attackers and raped her twice. (Brave survivor says she wants to work again)

Kasim Bangali, in his late twenties and the eldest of the five accused, was picked up by the police from the Mumbai suburbs this morning.

"If he is guilty, he should face the law. But if he's not, help us prove he's innocent," his mother, Chand Bibi, told NDTV, hours before he was caught.

The five had assaulted the 22-year-old at a deserted textile mill in Lower-Parel on Thursday evening, sparking anger across the country similar to the outrage that upped after a young student was fatally gang-raped on a moving bus in Delhi in December. (Watch: The Mumbai incident reminded me of my child, says Delhi braveheart's mother)

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Four of the five suspects have been arrested.

Kasim's mother said he returned home at around 9 pm on the day of the rape and went to sleep. Two hours later, he left hurriedly after receiving a call from a policeman who later told Chand Bibi, "How long can he run? One day we will catch him. Where is he?"

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A sketch of all five attackers was released to the public on Friday morning; it had been compiled based on inputs from the woman and her colleague.

The woman's male friend was tied up with a belt by the gang after the couple finished shooting their assignment at Shakti Mill for a local magazine. A beer bottle was held over her head as the men took turns to rape her, she has said in a statement to the police (Read).

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After the half-an-hour attack, the gang escorted the couple to a nearby train station to ensure they would not go directly to the police from the scene of the crime. The journalists phoned a senior executive at their office for help; he rushed to the station and then took them by taxi to the hospital where the woman is now recovering from internal and external injuries. (Read: Girl's colleague took cops around crime spot, identified rapist)