One held in Astha Kunj Park rape case after police encounter, two others questioned

A man accused of raping a 17-year-old girl at Astha Kunj Park near Kalkaji Mandir was arrested after an exchange of fire with police in southeast Delhi, while two others suspected to be involved in the crime were being questioned, officials said on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as Asif, was allegedly among three men who posed as policemen before taking the girl at gunpoint to a secluded part of the park on Monday evening, police said.

The other two suspects, identified as Hemant, an advocate, and his college-going brother, are natives of Faridabad and live in Sri Niwaspuri in Delhi. They were being questioned in connection with the case, officials said.

Asif allegedly opened fire at a police team when it tried to intercept him near DM Office Road in Amar Colony during the investigation.

He allegedly fired three rounds despite being asked to surrender. One of the bullets hit the bullet-proof jacket of head constable Rajesh, following which the policeman fired two rounds in self-defence. One bullet hit Asif in the right leg, police said.

The injured accused was taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre for treatment, they said.

The case relates to the alleged rape of the 17-year-old girl by the three men at Astha Kunj Park near Kalkaji Mandir on Monday evening.

According to the girl's statement, she had gone to Kalkaji Mandir with her 17-year-old male friend for darshan before the two entered Astha Kunj Park through Gate No 7.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Southern Range) Vijay Kumar said a PCR call was received at 8.45 pm on Monday regarding the girl and her friend.

The three men allegedly approached the teenagers, claimed to be policemen and spoke to them in "police and lawyer-like" language. They allegedly told the teenagers that they were minors, were doing something wrong and that a case could be registered against them.

The men then allegedly separated the girl from her friend and took her towards a secluded area of the park.

According to the complaint, Asif allegedly threatened the girl with a firearm and knife before raping her. The other two men also allegedly raped her, after which the trio threatened both the girl and her friend, police said.

The girl was medically examined at AIIMS. Crime and forensic teams examined the spot and collected evidence.

An FIR was registered at Amar Colony police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Several police teams were formed to trace the accused. During the investigation, police received information about Asif's movement near DM Office Road and laid a trap, officials said.

When the team intercepted him, he allegedly opened fire, leading to the exchange of fire in which he was injured and arrested.

Police are continuing efforts to trace the other two suspects.

Kumar also highlighted security concerns at the park, saying it is accessible from several sides and that some boundary walls are broken.

"Some gates are also not manned with guards while on some places are not sufficiently lit," he said.