GHAZIABAD: A 14-year-old girl was allegedly persuaded to go on a long drive by a youth she knew, taken to a flat in Delhi and gang-raped by four.
While three of the accused have been arrested, the fourth one is on the run.
According to the complaint filed by the girl’s father — a clerk in a private firm — the Class 9 student was called by one of the accused, Karan, to a temple near her home on July 27. From there, she was taken to a park, where Karan allegedly introduced her to three of his friends — Golu, Lefty and Suraj. The youth then persuaded the girl to go on a drive with them in his car, but was taken to a flat in the Kondli area of Delhi.
There, she was gang-raped by the four youths — all in their early twenties.
“The accused dropped her on the main road near her house and threatened her with dire consequences if she blurted out anything about the assault on her. However, the girl relied on her parents and narrated what had happened. The family then approached police,” the complaint said.
What allegedly followed was an episode of struggle to convince the cops to register the complaint.
A member of the girl’s family claimed that a cop at the local police station tried to persuade them to strike off the name of one of the accused from the complaint.
“It’s unfortunate how the police behaved with us when we approached them. They tore our complaint twice and turned us away several times. Later, we approached some senior officers, who helped us file the FIR,” the girl’s relative said.
Abhay Kumar Mishra, the circle officer of Indirapuram, said a medical test had been conducted on the girl, but the reports were awaited. “An FIR was registered against the four accused under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 363 (kidnapping), 376 (rape) of the IPC and relevant provisions of the Pocso Act,” he added.
Asked about the allegations that the police delayed registering the complaint, Mishra said, “We had called the family to the police station to record their statements, but they are yet to come. Initial findings do not suggest any lag in police behaviour. However, an investigation is underway and suitable action will be taken against anyone found guilty,” he added.
On the absconding fourth accused, Mishra said, “Police teams have been formed. He will be nabbed soon.”
(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
