New Delhi, Sept. 24 -- A wave of alleged rape, gang rape and harassment cases reported across Delhi in recent days has renewed concerns over the safety of women and children in public spaces and highlighted the need for preventive measures, surveillance and awareness.
The incidents include the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at Aastha Kunj Park near Kalkaji, the alleged rape of a minor at a hotel in Wazirabad, the harassment of two young women near Hakikat Park in Mukherjee Nagar, and the alleged gang rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl in Swaroop Nagar. The cases are being investigated by the
Delhi Police.
In the latest incident, a first-year Master's student at Hindu College alleged that she and her friend were harassed by men travelling in a car near Hakikat Park around 9.30 pm on Wednesday.
She alleged that the men attempted to pull them into the vehicle but fled after her friend started recording the incident.
Police registered a case at Mukherjee Nagar police station and traced the vehicle owner. Questioning indicated that a man identified as Naman was driving the car.
In Wazirabad, a minor who had befriended a man through social media allegedly told her family that he had raped her.
Police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and other laws after recording her statement and conducting a medical examination. The accused remains at large.
The Aastha Kunj case has also highlighted security concerns in large public parks. Police have examined CCTV footage, technical evidence and forensic material, while the mobile phones of the three accused have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory. All three were arrested within hours of the incident.
Authorities have ordered a safety audit of Delhi's parks, focusing on lighting, security, cleanliness and regular patrolling. Directions have also been issued to increase beat patrolling and deploy Pink Police personnel around parks.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.