Three arrested for allegedly gang-raping minor while posing as police in Delhi
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Photo: PTI
New Delhi: Three men were arrested for allegedly gang-raping a 17-year-old girl after posing as police personnel at a park near Kalkaji Temple in southeast Delhi on Monday night, according to police reports cited by The Hindu. The girl’s 17-year-old male friend was also allegedly assaulted.
The accused were identified as Asif, 31, an onion wholesaler; Hemanth, 31, who reportedly claims to be an advocate practising at Saket court; and his brother Mukesh, 24, a Bachelor of Science student from Haryana.
Police said Asif was shot in his right leg on Tuesday morning after allegedly opening fire at a police team attempting to intercept him, The New Indian Express reported.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Southern Range) Vijay Kumar told The Hindu that the three men approached the minor girl and her friend at the park and allegedly used legal terminology to intimidate them. The accused reportedly told the two that they had committed wrongdoing and could face legal action, Scroll.in reported.
According to the police account, the men then took the girl to an isolated location, restrained her male friend and allegedly sexually assaulted her.
A first information report (FIR) was registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to gang rape of a child, criminal conspiracy, voluntarily causing hurt and aggravated criminal intimidation. Relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act were also invoked.
Following the incident, Delhi University’s Lady Shri Ram College for Women cancelled regular classes on Tuesday and shifted classes online on Wednesday, according to a statement attributed to the college principal by Hindustan Times.
The alleged assault took place at a park near the college’s back gate. The decision to move classes online also followed an exchange of fire between police and one of the suspects at a location approximately 50 metres from the gate, The Hindu reported.
The college administration asked students, faculty members and staff to avoid gathering near the back gate. It also requested increased police patrolling around the campus.