HAUZ KHAS CASE: MAIN ACCUSED IDENTIFIED

NEW DELHI: A day after a 24-yearold student from Nagaland was allegedly raped inside South Delhi’s Deer Park, the Delhi Police claimed to have identified the main accused in the case.

The police have not revealed his identity as several teams are raiding Hauz Khas Village area, since the accused belongs to the same area.

“After intense investigation, the accused has been identified. Various teams are raiding his probable hideouts and results are expected soon,” said a senior police official.

Police have questioned more than 25 persons to get crucial leads in the case and to ascertain the whereabouts of the accused. The police are still questioning the various pub and bar owners in connection with the case to establish a sequence of events.

Cops have constituted several teams who are scouring through the posh Hauz Khas market area. Apart from the pub owners, the private security guards posted outside Deer Park are also being questioned. “We have questioned parking attendants, private security guards of the Deer Park and other shopkeepers in the locality to get leads in the case,” said a senior police official.

So far, the police have constituted a total of 20 teams headed by senior cops. According to sources, several suspects have also been approached by the police who are currently being questioned. The officials, however, are tight-lipped about the case and have refused to divulge any further information about the suspects.

“They all live in the adjoining area. It is a standard procedure to detain suspects and we are questioning them also,” said a police source.

The police, grappling with the case, have now sent in teams to procure the CCTV footages of the adjoining areas in a bid to identify the accused. So far, the cops have just one CCTV footage in their possession that shows the victim chatting with her cousin. “We are also obtaining CCTV footages of every possible route that could have been taken by the car borne accused to flee after committing the crime,” he added.

Police said that they have asked all the restaurants and bars in Hauz Khas Village area to provide CCTVS of their premises between 9.30 pm to 12 am. “We will take help of the victim to identify the accused with the help of CCTV footages of bars and restaurants. There are around 40 bars and restaurants in the area,” he added.

On Saturday night, a 24-year-old woman from Manipur was reportedly returning home with a cousin after dinner at a restaurant in Hauz Khas Village when she was taken to the park by a man who offered to drop her in his car.

The man allegedly raped her in the park and fled.