New Delhi, January 4
A 35-year-old Polish woman was allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted by a taxi driver while she was travelling with her two-year-old daughter from Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district to Delhi.

The victim is a devotee of Lord Krishna. She has been staying in Agra for the past three years. She also runs a garment business and often visits Delhi.

Her medical examination has confirmed that she was sexually assaulted. On Saturday afternoon, the Delhi Police registered a zero-First Information Report (FIR) that included charges of sexual assault, hurt, harassment and abduction at the Paharganj police station. A zero FIR may be registered on the basis of a woman's statement at any police station irrespective of jurisdiction. The FIR has been transferred to the Uttar Pradesh Police as the crime took place in their state.

According to the police, the victim had hired a taxi on Friday evening to travel to Delhi with her daughter. The driver allegedly sprayed something on her and she became unconscious. When she awoke, she found herself on a highway with her daughter.

She sought help from a passerby in order to reach a hotel in Paharganj and also informed the police. "She alleges that the taxi driver sexually assaulted her during the journey," a Delhi Police officer said. She reportedly has scratch marks visible on her nether region and chest.

The police conducted her medical examination and registered the sexual assault case. A police team also visited the site at the highway, where the woman had claimed she was dumped.

Sources said that the woman has informed the police of the taxi agency from where she hired the taxi. The police team has questioned the agency to ascertain the identity of the accused.

"We have informed the SSP, Mathura, of the matter and requested them to proceed with the investigations into the case," the officer said.

New Delhi, January 4
After a surprise inspection of government-run night shelters, Delhi Women and Child Development Minister Rakhi Birla found that in many such homes, toilets remain shut and inmates are living in unhabitable conditions.

Those responsible for the upkeep of the shelters were pulled up by the minister for lying that the homes are well managed.

"It is shocking that toilets in some of the houses are closed. Those in charge at the shelters are not ashamed of lying on camera. They say that they have not taken any money and are keeping the place clean, whereas it is visible how unhygienic and unclean the night shelters are," she said.

The minister said the inmates also complained about bad maintenance at these homes. "The conditions of the shelter homes are bad as they don't have any facilities. Sanitation is a major problem here. Stench was pervasive at the homes and they were overcrowded," she noted.

The minister, who is learnt to have spent an entire night out yesterday to know the ground reality of such government-run night shelters, has sought explanations from the officials concerned.

Starting around 10 last night till 4 am today, Rakhi visited shelters in Mangolpuri, Rajouri Garden, Azadpur, Qutub Road, Lori Gate, etc.

New Delhi, January 4
The Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) today protested against the removal of chairs and other facilities for security guards employed by the university and terminating the services of a security officer of south campus and his wife, who was a library employee.

"DU's teachers, students and employees have been joining this protest action in large numbers against the conversion of the university into a fiefdom where the most arbitrary and inhuman steps are being daily practised and the basic ethos and the fundamental principles of a university are being systematically destroyed. The dharna will continue until midnight," said DUTA representatives.

Harish Khanna, DUTA secretary and MLA (AAP), reported that he has spoken to a group of lawyers who have expressed the desire to take up the matter with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). DUTA claims it has written to the NHRC.

DUTA is demanding restoration of chairs and other facilities for the security guards. The reinstatement of 'Panditji dhaba' and a refund of over Rs 50,000 collected from the dhaba by the university as a fine and the reinstatement of the south campus security officer and his wife, who is a library employee, are some of the other demands.

"Their services have been terminated without assigning any reason and ostensibly because the South Campus security officer was not allowing a truck to leave with illegally felled trees," said DUTA representatives.

They are also demanding an enquiry into the illegal felling of trees.

New Delhi, January 4
A wild antelope was rescued from a south Delhi residential locality where it had strayed and released into the Asola wildlife sanctuary located on the outskirts of the national Capital.

The rescue team had a tough time and the operation, which lasted for several hours yesterday, was jointly carried out by Delhi-based NGO Wildlife SOS and the Wildlife Trust of India.

The antelope or nilgai was wandering in south Delhi's block E of Netaji Nagar before it was rescued, said a statement issued today. 

New Delhi, January 4
Two days after a communal dispute took place in east Delhi's Geeta Colony, three police personnel--two sub-inspectors and a constable--were sent to the district line for dereliction of duty.

"Sub-inspectors Praveen Chauhan and Kishanveer Raathi and a constable were sent to the district line as a punishment. A departmental inquiry has been initiated against them," said a police officer.

On Thursday evening, two communities clashed with each other in Geeta Colony. They threw stones at each other and tried to vandalise a government vehicle. Eight people from both the groups were injured. Onlookers somehow pacified the crowd. The police registered a case in regard to the violence.

The police also probed the matter and discovered that the three police personnel are responsible for dereliction of their duty in relation to the clashes.