New Delhi, Sept. 22 -- Three men have been arrested in connection with the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at Aastha Kunj Park near Delhi's Kalkaji Mandir after they allegedly posed as policemen and threatened the teenager and her 17-year-old male friend, police said on Tuesday. One of the accused, Asif, was arrested after a brief exchange of fire with police, while the other two, identified as Hemant and Mukesh, were later arrested from their residence.

The incident was reported on Monday evening after a PCR call was received around 8:45 pm about the alleged sexual assault near Kalkaji Mandir and the ISKCON Temple. Police reached the park and found the girl with her friend. She was subsequently taken to AIIMS for medical examination, while crime and forensic teams examined the scene and collected evidence.

According to the girl's statement, she and her friend had travelled to Delhi from Faridabad and visited Kalkaji Mandir for darshan. At around 7:30 pm, they entered Aastha Kunj Park through Gate No. 7. Police said three men, aged between 25 and 30, approached them and claimed to be policemen. They allegedly told the teenagers that they were doing something wrong and could face legal action. The men allegedly separated the girl from her friend and took her towards a secluded portion of the park. Asif allegedly threatened her with a firearm and knife and sexually assaulted her, after which the other two allegedly assaulted her as well. Police said the male friend was also allegedly beaten and held by the accused.

An FIR was registered at Amar Colony police station under Sections 70(2), 61(2), 115(2) and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, besides Sections 6 and 17 of the POCSO Act.

According to the sources, the accused knew each other as they lived and worked in the vicinity of the park and also, frequently met there. Asif, who lives in Amar Colony, used to work as an onion wholesaler at the Okhla Mandi, the sources said.

During the investigation, a police team led by Special Staff Inspector Rajender Dagar traced Asif near DM Office Road in Amar Colony. Police said Asif fired three rounds when officers tried to intercept him. One bullet hit the bulletproof jacket of Head Constable Rajesh, who fired two rounds in self-defence. One bullet struck Asif's right leg. He was taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre for treatment.

Hemant, a lawyer, and his brother Mukesh, a final-year BSc Mathematics student, were subsequently arrested. Both are from Faridabad and live in Sri Niwaspuri. Their father, advocate J R Dhankar, alleged that police took his sons from their home around 7 am and claimed they had been beaten. He denied any connection between them and the girl and alleged that they had been framed. Police are questioning the three accused.

Police are also checking whether the men could be linked to any other similar incidents in the park, although no other complaint has been received so far. Officials said parts of the park's boundary wall have collapsed, some gates are unmanned and certain areas are poorly lit. The investigation is continuing.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.