In a harrowing incident in northwest Delhi, a 30-year-old factory worker was allegedly abducted and gang-raped inside a moving sleeper bus on Monday night. Delhi Police confirmed on Thursday that both the driver and the conductor of the vehicle have been apprehended.
Incident Details
The victim, a resident of Pitampura who works in Mangolpuri, was returning home after her shift. According to her statement to the police:
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The Abduction: While walking near the B-block bus stand in Saraswati Vihar, she approached a man near a stationary sleeper bus to ask for the time. She was then forcibly pulled inside the vehicle.
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The Assault: The woman alleged that two men sexually assaulted her as the bus traveled several kilometers toward Nangloi.
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Abandonment: The accused eventually dropped the victim near the Nangloi Metro station and fled.
Police Action and Investigation
Following the victim’s contact with the police, an immediate medical examination was conducted at Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital.
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Arrests: The driver, identified as Umesh, and the conductor, Ramendra, were arrested and sent to judicial custody on Tuesday.
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Evidence: Police have seized the vehicle, a Bihar-registered sleeper bus. Forensic teams have collected evidence from the interior, and investigators are currently scanning CCTV footage along the bus’s route.
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The Vehicle: Officers noted that the bus had heavy curtains covering the windows, which obscured the view from the outside while the crime was being committed.
Legal Proceedings
A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including charges of gang rape. The investigation is ongoing as police verify the route taken by the bus and check for any additional lapses in security or unauthorized travel by the private vehicle.
