Three Men Posing as Cops Sexually Assault 17-Year-Old in Delhi, Suspect Shot in Police Encounter

A 17-year-old girl was gang-raped by three men posing as police officers in a park near South Delhi's Kalkaji Mandir on Monday evening, officials said. Police have arrested one of the accused, identified as Asif, following an encounter in which he sustained a gunshot wound, while a manhunt is underway to nab his two accomplices.

According to officials, the victim had visited Kalkaji Mandir with her friend at around 7:00 p.m. on Monday. After offering prayers at the temple, the duo walked to a nearby park around 7:30 p.m. Three men, aged between 25 and 30, approached them and claimed to be police officers. The impersonators threatened the two youngsters before sexually assaulting the minor girl.

Police Encounter and Arrest

A Police Control Room (PCR) call reporting the sexual assault in the park near Kalkaji Mandir and ISKCON Temple was received at 8:45 p.m., prompting a police team to rush to the spot.

During the subsequent search operations, police intercepted one of the suspects, identified as Asif. An encounter ensued, during which Asif sustained a bullet injury. He was immediately nabbed and is currently undergoing medical treatment under police custody. Investigators are carrying out raids across the capital to trace and arrest the remaining two accused.

String of Brutal Crimes Against Minors Triggers Outrage

The incident near Kalkaji Mandir comes amid growing outrage over a spate of horrific crimes against young girls across the national capital in recent days.

• September 16 (Sadar Bazaar): A sixth-grade student was lured into a shop by a 56-year-old shopkeeper, Maqsood, while out buying stationery. The accused tied her hands and legs before sexually assaulting her. Police arrested Maqsood following a PCR call, and he was remanded to judicial custody.
• September 13 (Swaroop Nagar): The severely decomposed body of a teenage girl was discovered near a field along Kushak Road in North Delhi, with police noting that parts of her remains had been eaten by stray dogs. Investigations revealed she was gang-raped and murdered by four individuals, including three juveniles, who subsequently abandoned her body. All four accused were arrested.

These recurring incidents have put the law and order situation in New Delhi under intense scrutiny, raising severe questions over the safety of women and young girls in public spaces across the capital.