MUMBAI: At a time when the new commissioner of police, Rakesh Maria , has made earnest promises for women’s safety, an unknown man tried to kill a Class VI girl with a cycle gear cable inside a moving lift in her building at Vile Parle (West). The spunky child caught hold of the cable and struggled against the assailant. She survived the horrific incident with minor injuries.

Last Sunday, the 11-year-old entered the lift on the building’s ground floor and the accused on the second. On hearing her screams, her mother rushed outside their ninth-floor flat and waited for the lift to arrive. As soon as the lift’s doors opened, the man pushed the child towards her mother and fled down the staircase.

On investigation, the Juhu police learned that her family had no enmity with anyone. The police suspect that it could be case of mistaken identity. They are making inquiries about other young girls in the building for leads in the case.

The girl was returning home alone from her tuition around 1pm. The liftman was absent that day. The accused, whom she ahd never seen before got in on the second floor and stood behind her.

As soon as the lift started moving, the man tried to strangulate her with the cycle gear cable. She screamed for help even as the assailant was using all his might to kill her.

The victim’s neighbour waiting for the lift on the ninth floor heard her screams and immediately informed her parents. Her mother rushed out and both stood outside the lift area. They were trying to figure out the problem when the lift door opened and the accused pushed the girl out towards them. He then used the stairs to escape. A third-floor resident also saw him run down, said the police.

"The girl sustained minor injuries but she is very brave. The accused left the cable on the spot. She had caught hold of the cable while the accused was trying to strangulate her. This saved her. She also confidently narrated the entire episode," said an officer. She said the accused was on in his 20s.

The Juhu police registered an attempt to murder case against the person and have prepared his sketch based on the description provided.

The police asked the girl as well as her two sisters whether they suspect anyone but they denied it.

The building was recently redeveloped, and construction work is currently on in two other adjoining buildings. The police questioned the construction workers for clues but in vain.

Six security guards were present on the premises when the incident took place, but none said they saw the accused. CCTV cameras were on, but there was no hard disk attached for recording.

"We have instructed building residents to make security guards more accountable and told them to enter details of all visitors. We also advised the residents to attached hard disks with CCTV cameras otherwise it’s of no use," said D O Jadhav, assistant commissioner of police (Juhu division).