A 24-year-old woman from the Northeast was allegedly raped inside Deer Park near south Delhi’s Hauz Khas village on Saturday night.
The accused, who is yet to be arrested, assaulted her on the pretext of giving her a ride back home.
The victim was on her way home from a pub she had come to with a group of friends and a cousin when the man approached her, claiming his car was parked nearby.
Victim was misled
“She left for home around 11.30 p.m. We suspect that the man, who was probably loitering around, approached her after spotting her alone. The unsuspecting victim, who agreed to his offer, was led into the Deer Park after the man told her it was a shortcut,” said a senior police officer.
The police are now probing how the duo entered Deer Park at that hour.
The victim, who was purportedly inebriated, has offered two versions of the incident — that the duo either entered through an open gate, or by scaling a boundary wall.
‘Thrashed her’
Once inside the park, the man led her to an isolated stretch where he forced himself upon her.
“She has also alleged that he thrashed her and took away her phone. She screamed for help, but no one came to her rescue since it was late and it was a deserted spot. The man then fled,” the officer added.
Private security guards told The Hindu that none of their colleagues on night duty had heard any commotion.
Later, the victim walked up to a police post nearby and narrated her ordeal. However, it did take her a while to figure her way out of the park.
A medical examination confirmed that she had been sexually assaulted.
Case registered
“We have registered a case under Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code. A probe has been has been launched. Efforts are being made to identify the culprit with the help of local intelligence and electronic surveillance,” said the officer.
Another police officer added that they had vital clues that could lead them to the accused.
The police are also checking to see if the man was accompanied by others.
Counselling sessions
The woman, meanwhile, has undergone counselling sessions. According to the police, she had come to the Capital in search of a job.
