A 17-year-old girl from Faridabad was allegedly gang-raped inside Aastha Kunj Park near Delhi’s Kalkaji Mandir after three men posing as policemen confronted her and her teenage male friend, threatened them and separated the two, according to police.

The incident, which took place on the evening of September 21, has triggered a major police investigation and renewed concerns over security arrangements inside the sprawling park. All three accused have since been arrested. One of them was injured in a police encounter after allegedly opening fire at officers attempting to apprehend him.

The teenager had reportedly travelled to Delhi with her 17-year-old friend and visited Kalkaji Mandir for prayers before the two entered Aastha Kunj Park. What began as an evening outing allegedly turned into a traumatic ordeal after the three men approached them and claimed to be police personnel.

What Happened At Aastha Kunj Park?

According to the girl’s statement to police, she and her friend reached Kalkaji Mandir at around 7 pm on Monday. After offering prayers, they entered the nearby Aastha Kunj Park through Gate No. 7 at approximately 7:30 pm.

The park is located in the vicinity of several prominent landmarks, including Kalkaji Mandir and the ISKCON Temple, and provides access towards the Nehru Place area.

Police said three men, believed to be between 25 and 30 years old, approached the teenagers inside the park. The men allegedly identified themselves as policemen and told the teenagers that they were minors and were doing something wrong.

The accused allegedly used threats of informing their parents and registering a case against them to intimidate the two. Police said the men then separated the girl from her friend and took her towards a more secluded section of the park.

According to the police account, the teenage boy was allegedly restrained and assaulted while the girl was taken away. The girl has alleged that one of the accused, identified as Asif, threatened her with a firearm and a knife before sexually assaulting her. The other two accused allegedly assaulted her subsequently.

Police sources said the alleged assault occurred inside an old stone structure in the park. After the incident, the accused allegedly threatened both teenagers before leaving the area.

PCR Call Led To Police Investigation

The teenage boy used his mobile phone to make a PCR call, with police receiving information about the alleged assault at around 8:45 pm.

A team from Amar Colony police station reached Aastha Kunj Park and found the girl and her friend. The girl was subsequently taken for a medical examination at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

Crime and forensic teams examined the location and collected evidence as part of the investigation. Police also began examining CCTV footage from the park and surrounding areas to establish the sequence of events and identify the suspects.

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

Because the survivor is a minor, authorities are treating the case under the stringent provisions applicable to sexual offences against children.

Who Are The Three Accused?

Police have identified the three arrested men as Asif, Hemant and Mukesh.

According to investigators, Asif works as an onion wholesaler at Okhla Mandi. Hemant is a practising lawyer, while his younger brother Mukesh is a final-year BSc Mathematics student, according to information provided during the investigation.

The two brothers are originally from Faridabad and are currently reported to be living in Delhi’s Sri Niwaspuri area. Police have said the three men knew each other and had met in the vicinity of the park.

The professional and educational backgrounds of two of the accused have drawn attention, but investigators are continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged crime and the relationship between the three men.

The father of Hemant and Mukesh has denied the allegations against his sons. He has alleged that the brothers were taken from their residence by police and claimed they were being framed. These allegations form part of the defence side of the developing case and have not been established independently.

One Accused Injured In Police Encounter

The investigation took a dramatic turn early Tuesday morning when police teams received information about Asif’s alleged movement near DM Office Road in Amar Colony.

A police team led by Inspector Rajender Dagar reportedly laid a trap to intercept him. Police said Asif opened fire after officers attempted to stop him and fired three rounds.

One bullet reportedly struck the bulletproof jacket of Head Constable Rajesh. Police said the officer returned fire in self-defence, firing two rounds, one of which struck Asif in his right leg.

Asif was subsequently arrested and taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre for treatment. Police later arrested Hemant and Mukesh as well.

The encounter site was also examined by forensic personnel as part of the investigation.

Security Concerns At Aastha Kunj Park

The alleged gangrape has brought renewed scrutiny to the security infrastructure at Aastha Kunj Park.

The park is spread across a large area and has multiple entry and exit points. Police officials have pointed to broken portions of its boundary wall, unmanned gates and poorly lit stretches as factors that can make parts of the park difficult to monitor.

The open layout of the park has also emerged as a concern for investigators. Officials have indicated that the authorities have previously been asked to strengthen security measures, including lighting and CCTV coverage.

The incident has also raised concerns beyond the immediate neighbourhood because of the park’s proximity to educational institutions and major public landmarks.

Following the incident and the subsequent police encounter, Lady Shri Ram College for Women temporarily suspended physical classes and moved some academic activities online amid concerns over safety in the surrounding area.

Police Probe Into Possible Earlier Incidents

Investigators are also examining whether the accused may have been involved in other incidents at or around Aastha Kunj Park.

Police sources said the possibility was being verified during the investigation. However, officials have also clarified that no separate complaint connected to such incidents had been received at the time of the latest reports.

The investigation is therefore expected to focus on establishing the complete sequence of events, verifying the evidence collected from the crime scene and CCTV footage, and determining whether the accused had any previous involvement in similar offences.

A Wider Concern Over Crimes Against Minors In Delhi

The Kalkaji Mandir case comes amid a series of reported sexual assault cases involving minors in Delhi in September.

According to police reports, a 17-year-old girl in northwest Delhi’s Swaroop Nagar was allegedly gang-raped and killed earlier in the month, with four people subsequently arrested, including three minors.

Another case involved a Class 6 student who was allegedly sexually assaulted inside a tailoring shop in the Sadar Bazar area. A separate case involving a six-year-old girl was also reported in central Delhi around the same period.

The cases are not being treated as connected incidents, but their occurrence within a short period has intensified public concern about the safety of children and young women in the capital.

Investigation Continues

The Kalkaji Mandir gangrape investigation remains underway, with police examining physical evidence, CCTV footage, witness information and the statements of those involved.

The case has also highlighted how impersonating law-enforcement personnel can be used as a means of intimidation, particularly when victims are led to believe that they are facing legitimate police action.

For the 17-year-old survivor, an evening visit to a temple and a nearby public park allegedly ended in a serious crime. The arrests have moved the investigation forward, but questions surrounding security at Aastha Kunj Park, the conduct of the accused and whether any earlier incidents may have gone unreported remain under examination.

As the legal process progresses, the evidence collected during the investigation will determine the allegations against the accused and the course of the case.

With input from agencies
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