Security concerns remain at southeast Delhi’s Aastha Kunj Park days after a 17-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped there, with visitors and vendors raising questions over poor lighting, damaged boundary walls and unattended entry points.
Police have increased patrolling across the sprawling park following the incident, news agency PTI reported. The men allegedly posed as policemen before confronting the two and separating them. Since the incident, police personnel have been seen patrolling different parts of the park, while security guards have also been deployed. “Police personnel and guards are now more visible in the area, but why isn’t this the norm always? Why wait for something so horrific to happen for authorities to address the fault lines?
On Monday evening, three men identified as Asif, Hemant and Hemant’s brother Manish allegedly approached the teenage girl and her 17-year-old male friend, who were sitting on a bench and eating chips after offering prayers at the nearby Kalkaji Mandir, police said.
However, people who regularly visit the area said the deployment does not address longstanding concerns about security, particularly after dark. The girl was then allegedly raped by the three men in turns, police said. They also said security arrangements are often tightened following an incident but tend to reduce after a few days. A woman vendor stationed near the spot where the alleged rape took place said police personnel and guards have become more visible since Monday evening. I feel scared going that way in the evening after what happened here,” she said.
