New Delhi: Posing as policemen, three men allegedly threatened and sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl in the forested park behind southeast Delhi’s Kalkaji Temple, the police said Tuesday. One of the accused, identified as Asif, was arrested after a brief exchange of fire in the Amar Colony area early Tuesday.
The police said that a distress call regarding the alleged rape of a minor girl by three persons near Kalkaji Mandir was received at around 8.45 pm Monday. The Station House Officer (SHO) and staff members from Amar Colony Police Station immediately reached Astha Kunj Park, where they found the survivor with a male friend.
According to the survivor’s statement to the police, she and her friend “had visited Kalkaji Mandir for darshan and subsequently entered Astha Kunj Park through Gate No. 7″.
“Then, three persons allegedly posing as policemen separated her from her friend and took her towards a secluded area,” the statement added. “One of the accused, identified as Asif, allegedly threatened her with a firearm and knife and sexually assaulted her.”
Thereafter, the survivor said that two other accused also allegedly sexually assaulted her. “The accused persons subsequently threatened the victim and her friend,” the police recorded.
The officer said the survivor was medically examined at AIIMS Hospital. Crime and forensics teams examined the scene and collected relevant exhibits.
The case follows an eerily similar incident of assault and molestation in Bihar’s Jamui, where a minor boy and girl were attacked by a group of men Saturday.
The case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 70(2) (gang rape), 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(3) (criminal intimidation), along with relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) was registered at Amar Colony Police Station.
The police said, during the investigation, different teams were formed to trace the accused in the case. “One team received specific information regarding the movement of accused Asif near DM Office Road, Amar Colony where police had laid a trap.”
When the accused was intercepted, he allegedly opened fire at the police party, firing three rounds, police said. “Despite being directed to surrender, he continued firing. During the exchange of fire, one round hit the bullet-proof jacket of Head Constable Rajesh. In self-defence, Rajesh fired two rounds, one of which hit the accused in his right leg.”
The injured accused was immediately shifted to AIIMS Trauma Centre for treatment. The crime and forensic teams were called to the spot, and necessary legal proceedings are being undertaken. Further investigation is in progress, police have said, adding that efforts are being made to arrest the remaining two accused persons in the case.
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)