The person who came to the aid of the two women who were molested by a group of men on the occasion of New Year's Day in suburban Juhu in Mumbai, on Monday said he had not seen any of the offenders.

Jagdish Dave, photographed during the incident by two lensmen from a national daily, had helped the women when a group of an estimated 70 persons surrounded them.

"I was going with a friend to the Juhu beach when I heard the women's screams and I saw the girls being teased. I tried to help them and began shouting for the police as well," Dave, who was felicitated by a local tabloid on Monday, said.

Dave, a 24-year-old working in a jewellery shop, said the police had said they would contact him, but had not done so.
"However, I did not see any of the men who molested the women. I was busy saving the women and would not be able to identify them again," he said.

Dave's statement has not been recorded by the police, which had arrested 14 persons for their involvement in the case. All the arrested individuals were granted bail on January 4.

"But women should not roam around late at night on such days," Dave said, and when questioned what he meant, hastily corrected himself saying that he meant women should not travel on such days without taking sufficient precautions.

The two lensmen who photographed the incident, Satish Bate and Prasad Gori, were also present at the function and said that during the identification parade on January 5, they had identified at least three of the arrested persons as being among those who had molested the women.