KALYAN: The probe into the murder of Santosh Vichivara (19), who was killed by five teenagers in Dombivli for protesting against eve-teasing, has again highlighted a disturbing fact—the reluctance of ordinary citizens to speak up.

Santosh was assaulted and stabbed in the presence of around 30 to 35 people outside the gate of his housing complex, but not one of them went to his aid. Neither have they come forward to record their statements as eyewitnesses. Police said they have recorded the statements of seven people, including family members and relatives of the deceased, and feel they have sufficient evidence to prove the involvement of the five in the case. However, they added, the case would be strengthened immensely if more eyewitnesses were to come forward with their statements.

Police sources claimed that while they know some of the people who were present at the spot at the time of the incident, the latter are denying their presence to “avoid getting into trouble”.

So far statements of only three eyewitnesses have been recorded, which include the girl who was targeted by the accused, Jayantilal Gada, who was injured while trying to help Santosh, and another person from the area (name withheld on request).

Talking to TOI, the girl said while there were around 30-35 people outside the gate of the Navneet Nagar complex when the five boys first started manhandling Santosh for daring to resist them, none stepped forward to help him. She then rushed inside the complex asking people for help but by the time they reached the spot, the accused had already stabbed Santosh. His assailants used the same knife to injure Gada (50), who was among the first people from the complex to arrive at the spot to help Santosh.

The Kutchi Jain Foundation , which constructed the complex of around 500 flats, is believed to be building another 3,500 flats in the complex by next year. The complex has been occupied for two years now. Residents, wary of another such incident, have now decided to approach the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Transport to start bus services till their complex as people currently have to walk around half a kilometre before they can board a private bus.

Manoj Gosar, committee member from Navneet Nagar complex, said, “People have to walk around half a kilometre in an area where miscreants routinely stand and pass lewd comments at women. On the day of the incident too, Santosh and the girl were walking down the stretch when the miscreants targeted the girl. Such incidents can be averted if the KDMT operates bus services up to the complex.”

TIMES VIEW: Silence reveals sense of insecurity

The silence is an indication of the extent of insecurity among ordinary people. The flip-flop over the girl’s statement was another. It’s unfortunate that a crime happening in front of so many people — actually, an open-and-shut case — should go through so much even before the case has reached the court. Cops should now take this case to its logical conclusion. This case, just like the Amboli murders, has provoked immense public outrage and Mumbaikars – along with Santosh Vichivara’s family – would like to see justice being done.