Three men have been arrested in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl at Astha Kunj Park near Kalkaji Mandir in Delhi, with police saying the main accused opened fire during an interception before being injured in retaliatory firing.
According to Delhi Police, the girl and her male friend had visited Kalkaji Mandir before entering Astha Kunj Park through Gate No. 7. The three men allegedly claimed to be policemen, separated the girl from her friend and took her to a secluded area. One of the accused, identified by police as Asif, allegedly threatened her with a firearm and knife before sexually assaulting her. The other two men also allegedly assaulted her, police said.
A PCR call was received at around 8.45pm, following which the SHO of Amar Colony police station and other personnel reached the park. The girl was found there with her friend, and her statement was recorded. She was medically examined at AIIMS, while crime and forensic teams examined the location and collected relevant exhibits.
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, along with Sections 6 and 17 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The sections cited by police include provisions relating to sexual offences, criminal conspiracy, voluntarily causing hurt and criminal intimidation, as well as offences under the child-protection law.
During the investigation, police teams were formed to trace the accused. A team led by Inspector Rajender Dagar, in-charge of the Special Staff of South-East district, received information about Asif’s movement near DM Office Road in Amar Colony and laid a trap, police said.
Police alleged that Asif opened fire when the team intercepted him, firing three rounds at the police party. Despite being asked to surrender, he allegedly continued firing. One round struck head constable Rajesh’s bulletproof jacket. Police said the officer fired two rounds in self-defence, one of which hit Asif in his right leg. The injured accused was taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre for treatment.
Crime and forensic teams were also called to the encounter site. Police subsequently arrested the other two accused, identified as Hemant and Mukesh. Further investigation into the alleged assault, the weapons used and the sequence of events at the park is underway.
