Poor policing is at fault for rise in cases: Locals

NEWDELHI: The minor girl’s rape in south Delhi’s Rangpuri Pahari on Wednesday is the third incident of sexual assault in the neighbourhood in past five months, residents alleged, expressing concerns over women’s safety in the locality.

Residents claimed that a day after the alleged rape, the accused in Wednesday’s case had gone on to molest another child at a waste godown nearby where he was employed.

Stressing on poor policing in the area, locals alleged that around five months ago another man had molested a woman by publically harassing her.

On Thursday, the police arrested 24-year-old Prakash after he allegedly molested the five-year-old daughter of one of his colleagues at the godown. A few men from the area allegedly caught him and he was thrashed by local residents before being handed over to the police.

Police officials said Prakash, during interrogation, confessed that he raped the nine-year-old in Rangpuri on Wednesday.

Rangpuri residents said Friday night’s outrage had been brewing in the area for a few months.

Other residents said Prakash’s behaviour had always been suspicious.

“The accused was a labourer. He often collected waste for us and I gave him food in exchange. On Thursday, when he was caught molesting the five-yearold, he scaled the wall of the godown and jumped in my backyard to hide. My husband scolded him and asked him to leave immediately threatening to call police,” said a woman who works as a caretaker at a vacant plot near the godown.

Other residents said Prakash he had been working at the godown for past year.

“On Wednesday, he came to my house and was staring at my younger sister. My uncle screamed at him and told him to leave,” said another women who lives near Prakash’s workplace.

Locals also alleged that police officers rarely patrolled the area.

“We barely see any police patrol here. Because the area mostly has jhuggis, law and order in this area is not on their (police’s) priority. Three incidents have happened in past five months,” said another resident.