3 held for rape of Odisha-based researcher

The Delhi Police arrested three persons, including a scrap dealer, physically challenged beggar and an autorickshaw driver, in the alleged gangrape of a researcher from Odisha, who was suffering from mental illness, police officials said on Thursday.

The police received a call about the incident at 3.15 am on October 11, reporting the presence of a girl in the Sarai Kale Khan area. “The caller described the girl as wearing a red kurta and bleeding, expressing concern that she might have been injured or assaulted,” the police said.

Upon arrival, the police found the victim in a distressed state and promptly transported her to the AIIMS Trauma Centre for medical examination.

“Later, the victim told the attending doctor that she had been sexually assaulted by three persons. However, after this initial statement, the victim could not cooperate further with the investigation or hospital staff due to her mental illness. The victim was found to be unfit for statement,” DCP (South-East) Ravi Kumar Singh said.

A case was registered under Sections 70(1) (gangrape) and 115(2) (causing hurt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on October 11. A total of 10 police teams were constituted to arrest the accused.

The DCP added that the victim, a resident of Puri, Odisha, belongs to a lower middle class family. “The victim is a dedicated researcher, facilitator and community leader with over eight years of experience in the social sector. Holding a Master’s degree in social work from Utkal University of Culture, Bhubaneswar, she has actively contributed to various developmental organisations,” he said.

She had also worked as a Research Fellow at Kalinga Network for Living with HIV/AIDS, community leader at women power for sanitation awareness and as a counsellor at One Stop Centre in Puri, he added.

“She came to Delhi on May 9, without informing her family and a missing person report was registered by her parents in this regard on June 9 at the Kumbharpada police station in Puri,” an officer said.

Meanwhile, the victim initially sought temporary shelter with an acquaintance in Delhi, explaining that she needed a place to stay for two months as she had recently secured a bank job in the city, an officer stated. However, she soon left the accommodation, chose not to return to Odisha, and began taking shelter at bus stops, railway stations and foot overbridges.

“During the operation, special permission was obtained from the AIIMS Trauma Centre management, allowing woman constable Sangeeta to pose as a social worker, while a native Odia woman took on the role of a nurse. They were tasked with caring for the victim to build trust and gather vital information from her,” said the DCP.

Sangeeta gained the victim’s trust and obtained some critical information, including the involvement of “an autorickshaw driver and two others, one of whom had a physical disability”. However, due to her trauma and illness, the victim was unable to provide details about the time and location of the incident, he added.

The police analysed several government and private CCTV cameras, tracking the victim’s movement from Sarai Kale Khan to Old Delhi Railway Station. A breakthrough came when they identified her leaving the waiting hall of Old Delhi Railway Station on October 10. The police then tracked her movement and 150 autorickshaws were suspected. By reviewing the footage, the police eventually identified the vehicle involved and traced its driver, Prabhu Mahto, who was operating that night.

After extensive efforts, Mahto was arrested on October 30, followed by the arrests of Pramod, alias Babu, and Mohammad Shamsul, alias Raju, on November 2 and 4, respectively.

During interrogation, Pramod, an alcohol addict, revealed he had closed his scrap shop and was intoxicated when he noticed the girl sitting nearby. Shortly afterwards, Shamsul, a physically challenged beggar and alcohol addict, arrived. Both men allegedly conspired to assault her, assuming she was vulnerable. They forcibly took her to a secluded area and assaulted her, the DCP said.

Later, the autorickshaw driver, Mahto, witnessed the assault and joined them. “He then forced the girl into his vehicle and raped her before dumping her near Sarai Kale Khan and fleeing,” the DCP added.

Has postgraduate degree in social work

• The woman has a postgraduate degree in social work from Utkal University of Culture, Bhubaneswar
• The victim is a dedicated researcher, facilitator and community leader with over eight years of experience in the social sector
• The police arrested three persons, including a scrap dealer, physically challenged beggar and an autorickshaw driver.