A birthday visit to a temple in Delhi ended with a 17-year-old girl allegedly being gang-raped inside Aastha Kunj Park near Kalkaji Mandir.
The teenager had gone out with a friend on 21 September. According to her statement to police, the two entered the park after visiting the temple. What happened next involved three men allegedly posing as policemen, threats with weapons and a secluded part of the park.
All three accused have since been arrested. The survivor has also helped investigators identify the places where the alleged assault took place. Here is what is known about her account and what happened after she reported the incident.
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Who Is The Survivor?
The survivor is a 17-year-old girl from Faridabad. Reports say she is a school student.
Her identity has not been made public, in line with legal protections for child survivors of sexual offences.
On 21 September, her birthday, she left home at around 5 pm after informing her elder sister. She travelled to Delhi with a 17-year-old male friend.
The two reached Kalkaji Mandir at around 5:45 pm, according to her statement. After offering prayers, they bought chips and a bottle of water near Kalkaji Metro Station.
They then entered Aastha Kunj Park through Gate No. 7.
She told police that she also wanted to visit the ISKCON temple later that evening. She suggested that they sit in the park for some time, eat and then continue to the temple.
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Then, Three Men Approached Them
The teenager said she and her friend had just sat on a bench near the swings when three men approached them from behind.
She estimated that they were between 30 and 35 years old.
According to her account, the men grabbed her friend and slapped him. When the two asked who they were, the men allegedly claimed to be policemen.
They questioned the teenagers about why they were in the park and allegedly told them that entry was not allowed at that time.
The men then allegedly took away both their mobile phones and separated them.
The survivor said she was frightened and asked the men to speak to her parents instead.
She told police that she said, “Sir, ask whatever you want to ask here. Talk to my mother.”
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The Threats, As She Described Them
According to her statement, one of the men called another accused, whom she identified as Asif, and asked him to take out a gun.
She told police that Asif was wearing a purple shirt and showed her what appeared to be a black firearm before putting it back into his pocket.
She then said the men took out knives.
The teenager alleged that she was taken towards a darker and more secluded part of the park. She told police that the three men sexually assaulted her one after another while threatening her with knives.
She described herself as crying and in pain during the alleged assault.
Police later said the survivor helped them identify different locations inside the park where the alleged assaults took place. Forensic teams examined those locations and collected biological and other evidence. The samples have been sent for scientific examination, including DNA profiling.
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What Happened After The Alleged Assault?
The survivor told police that the three men asked her to dress quickly before bringing her friend back.
They allegedly returned both mobile phones and ordered the teenagers to leave the park.
According to her statement, the men threatened to kill them if they told anyone what had happened.
The two then left the park.
Once outside, the teenager told her friend about the alleged sexual assault. He subsequently called the police control room.
A PCR call was received at around 8:45 pm, following which police reached the park and began the investigation. The girl was later medically examined at AIIMS.
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How Did Police Find The Accused?
The survivor's account became an important part of the investigation.
She was able to recall descriptions of the men, the clothes they were wearing and the names or nicknames they used for one another.
Police later took her back to Aastha Kunj Park, where she identified the locations connected to her account. Investigators also examined CCTV footage from the area and surrounding routes.
According to police, footage from more than 300 cameras was examined. Around 20 people were initially shortlisted before technical surveillance and local intelligence helped investigators identify the three accused.
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Who Has Been Arrested?
Police identified the three accused as Asif, Hemant and Mukesh.
Asif was arrested after police said he allegedly opened fire at a police team in the Amar Colony area while officers were trying to apprehend him. He sustained a gunshot injury to his leg and was taken for treatment.
Hemant, described in reports as a lawyer, and his younger brother Mukesh, a final-year BSc Mathematics student, were arrested from their residence.
A Delhi court on 24 September sent all three accused to 14 days' judicial custody. The case remains under investigation and the allegations against the accused have not been adjudicated at trial.
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What Happens Next?
The investigation is now focused on forensic evidence, CCTV footage, digital evidence and the movements of the accused before and after the alleged incident.
Police have recorded statements from 12 witnesses and are cross-checking these accounts with call detail records and CCTV footage from around Aastha Kunj Park. The mobile phones of the accused have also been sent for forensic examination.
Investigators are also examining whether the accused could be linked to any similar incidents. Police have said that no formal complaint relating to such incidents had been received so far.
The incident has also led to scrutiny of security at Aastha Kunj Park. Reports have highlighted inadequate lighting, gaps in CCTV coverage and security concerns around the large park.
On 23 September, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu directed a safety audit of all Delhi parks, with attention to lighting, security and patrolling.
For the survivor, however, the immediate account of what happened has already become a central part of the investigation. Her statement, identification of locations and subsequent forensic examination are now being used alongside other evidence as the case moves through the legal process.
TL;DR | News At A Glance
Who is the survivor?
She is a 17-year-old girl from Faridabad whose identity has not been disclosed because she is a minor and a survivor of an alleged sexual offence.
What happened on 21 September?
She visited Kalkaji Mandir with a 17-year-old male friend on her birthday before entering Aastha Kunj Park.
What did she tell the police?
She alleged that three men approached them, claimed to be policemen, took their phones and separated her from her friend. She said the men threatened her with a firearm and knives before allegedly sexually assaulting her.
How did the police get the complaint?
After leaving the park, she told her friend about the alleged assault. He called the police control room. A PCR call was received at around 8.45 pm.
Who has been arrested?
Police arrested Asif, Hemant and Mukesh. A Delhi court sent all three to 14 days' judicial custody on 24 September.
What happens next?
Police are examining forensic evidence, CCTV footage, witness statements and digital evidence. The investigation is continuing.
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