A minor girl allegedly trafficked from West Bengal was rescued after enduring months of abuse, culminating in a gang rape near Moolchand Metro Station in South Delhi. The survivor was held captive for nearly five months. After escaping, she came under the control of an auto driver in Delhi, who allegedly raped her repeatedly over a week. On the night of May 5th, he and others allegedly gang-raped her near the Moolchand Metro area. The accused, reportedly an auto driver, confessed to the crime at the police station.
A local rickshaw puller who found the girl in distress informed locals, who were out feeding stray dogs, about her condition. The locals found the girl curled up under a sheet. She spoke in Bengali that neither they nor the rickshaw puller could fully understand until a translator was called. When the girl saw a man pass by, she began screaming.
The rickshaw puller explained that this was the auto driver she was accusing of rape and abuse. When confronted, the accused became violent and struck the girl in front of others. A crowd gathered and beat him before escorting both the victim and the accused to the Amar Colony Police Station. At the station, the auto driver reportedly confessed. Despite this, he was allowed to rest in an air-conditioned room while the victim was made to sit on two uncomfortable chairs. After undergoing a medical examination for sexual assault, she was not administered painkillers or any form of trauma care.
Formal action has been delayed. The incident took place on a service road near Frank Anthony Public School, close to Moolchand Metro Station. The location is in proximity to educational institutions like Lady Shri Ram College for Women and Bluebells International School, and lies within a densely populated student-occupied PG area in the National Park.
The area where the crime occurred is frequently used by students and young professionals, many of whom identify it as unsafe. Students have long reported incidents of sexual harassment, flashing, and even attempted abductions along the back gate’s service road. These complaints have rarely received official acknowledgement or resulted in increased security
I have personally felt threatened several times on my way to college every day. With such incidents of casual harassment happening on quite literally every possible road you could take within the area, safety becomes a privilege. The complacency and at times, indifference of the Amar Colony Police Station only further compounds this issue. We are left with no alternative but to leave our own campus early, in the hopes of avoiding creepy men
– Student from Lady Shri Ram College for Women
The survivor provided detailed accounts of sexual assault, including the use of foreign objects and burn marks on her body. Despite this, police were allegedly reluctant to file a formal complaint, and one of the accused has already fled the state. Some are concerned that delayed legal action may once again deny justice.
National media outlets such as The Times of India and The Indian Express reported the incident, which has been criticised by the original complainant for its inconsistencies, calling the girl a “vagabond” and misstating her age, and further, for reinforcing victim-blaming narratives. Students of Lady Shri Ram College who were planning to go to the Amar Colony Police Station to raise complaints were asked to refrain by the original complainant, due to escalating tensions there. They expressed a desire for the child to have her hearing with the magistrate on 8th May, without disruptions. A peaceful protest may be organised soon.
This incident in itself, however, is not isolated. It reflects a systemic failure to protect survivors and ensure public safety. The imbalance in how the accused and victim were treated highlights deeper issues within the system, where those seeking justice are often left to suffer in silence while perpetrators evade punishment. As students and residents in the area continue to demand accountability, the case has sparked renewed calls for police reform, institutional sensitivity, and tangible steps to make Delhi safe for all.
Image Credits: ETV Bharat
Ritobrita Mukherjee
