17-yr-old gang-raped, two arrested

Taken to lonely place, assaulted by neighbours

A 17-year-old girl was gang-raped by two men in west Delhi’s Punjabi Bagh on Tuesday. Both the culprits were arrested on Wednesday, police said.

Mohd Hafiz and Mohd Hasimuddin, both married and aged 22, work at a roadside eatery and are neighbours of the victim.

Hafiz befriended her and they started meeting occasionally at her home as he knew her father.

As their friendship grew deeper, Hafiz started asking her to meet him outside, said police.
On Tuesday, Hafiz took her out for shopping. As they were going in an autorickshaw, Hafiz told the driver to stop at a secluded location.

On being asked about the halt, Hafiz told her that he had some urgent work to do, said police. As they were waiting, Hafiz’s friend Hasimuddin arrived, and they both took her to a field.

They then gagged her and took turns to rape her. Before fleeing, they threatened her with life if she revealed the ordeal to anyone.

When she reached home, she narrated the entire incident to her parents after they questioned her about the bruises on her face.

A case has been registered under section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code, and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act with Keshav Puram police station.

Police then raided their possible hideouts and Hafiz was arrested within hours at his relative’s home. At his instance, Hasimuddin was caught on Wednesday.
Police said some people also witnessed the assault.