A 17-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped inside Delhi’s Astha Kunj Park after three men allegedly posed as police officers, prompting a police operation that led to one suspect being arrested following an exchange of fire. The incident has also drawn attention to a series of reported sexual-assault cases involving minors in the national capital in recent weeks.
A 17-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped inside a park in southeast Delhi after three men reportedly posed as police personnel, with one of the accused later arrested following an encounter with the Delhi Police. Two other suspects remain at large, according to officials.
The incident took place on Monday evening at Astha Kunj Park in the Kalkaji area. Police said the teenager had gone to the park with a 17-year-old male friend after visiting the nearby Kalkaji Temple. The three accused allegedly confronted them and claimed to be policemen before the assault took place.
A PCR call alerting police to the alleged sexual assault was received at around 8.45 pm. A police team subsequently reached the park, where officers found the girl and her male friend. The teenager was taken through the appropriate procedures as police began investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged crime.
The investigation soon led officers to one of the alleged accused, identified as Asif. Acting on information about his movements, a police team located him near Amar Colony.
According to police officials, officers attempted to stop Asif and asked him to surrender. Instead, he allegedly opened fire, firing three rounds at the police team. One of the bullets struck the bulletproof jacket worn by a head constable, officials said.
The police personnel then returned fire in self-defence. One of the rounds hit Asif in his right leg, after which he was apprehended. He was subsequently taken for medical treatment, while investigators continued efforts to identify and locate the two other suspects allegedly involved in the crime.
Police have launched a manhunt for the remaining accused and are examining the circumstances leading up to the incident. Investigators are also expected to establish the exact sequence of events inside and around the park and verify the allegations made by the teenager.
The case has added to concerns surrounding the safety of minors in the capital. Police said it is the fourth reported case involving the sexual assault of a minor in Delhi over the past two weeks.
The alleged impersonation of police personnel is also a significant element of the investigation, as authorities seek to determine whether the accused deliberately used a false identity to gain control over the victims.
With one suspect in custody and two others being pursued, the investigation remains focused on reconstructing the incident, gathering available evidence and locating those still at large.
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