Delhi Police on Saturday claimed to have arrested two persons for allegedly gang-raping a 13-year-old Dalit girl, in West Delhi’s Uttam Nagar area.
The victim had earlier alleged that she was molested by the Station House Officer (SHO) of Uttam Nagar, who also used derogatory language against her in front of other police personnel. Following her allegation, the police official was suspended. In her written complaint to Delhi lt Governor Najeeb Jung, Commissioner of Police, Joint CP (Western Range), DCP (Vigilance), she was allegedly sent by theSHO to Nirmal Chhaya, a destitute home, instead of registering her rape complaint.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Ranveer Singh refused to comment on the allegations made by the victim against the SHO and said that the matter was being investigated by the DCP Vigilance. The DCP (West) Ranveer Singh said that after receiving information about the incident on September 14, the victim was taken to the police station and her statement was recorded in front of two NGOs.
“Apart from a woman investigating officer, the SHO and two NGO officials were also present along with the victim and her mother. A case under Sections 376, 328 of IPC and several Sections of POCSO was subsequently registered the same day at Uttam Nagar Police Station and the accused were arrested the same evening,” he clarified.
According to the plaint by the victim, on September 12, her neighbour Sheela invited her home. “Sheela’s father asked four men to accompany the two girls to a nearby temple. They took the girls to a flat instead on Dwarka More, where the Dalit minor’s modesty was outraged by the men,” said a police officer.
An MMS clip of the act was allegedly taken by the perpetrators. The victim was dropped off at Dwarka More. Along with Sheela, the victim took an autorickshaw to reach her Uttam Nagar residence. Two days later, she mustered courage to inform her aunt about the incident who informed police.