Delhi police said Asif, a 25‑year‑old worker at Okhla Mandi, was the first of three men to be apprehended after the 17‑year‑old victim was sexually assaulted near Kalkaji Mandir on September 18 at about 7:30 pm. The victim and her male friend had just finished prayers at the temple when the trio, who posed as policemen, approached them with a firearm and knife and forced the girl to submit to assault.
The police received a 911 call at 8:45 pm and dispatched a squad that reached the park within minutes. CCTV footage was reviewed to identify the attackers, while officers canvassed the surrounding area for witnesses. When one suspect was located near DM Office Road in Amar Colony, the police set a trap; he fired three rounds at the officers before being shot in the right leg.
One of the accused, identified as Asif, was taken into custody on the scene, while the other two remain at large. The case has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and investigators are pursuing leads in the immediate vicinity of the park.
The incident marks the fourth rape of a minor in Delhi within ten days, following a 17‑year‑old’s murder in Swaroop Nagar, a 10‑year‑old’s assault in Sadar Bazar, and a six‑year‑old’s attack in Kishan Ganj. Police said the string of crimes has sparked outrage among residents and demands for stricter enforcement.
Delhi police have announced a task force to locate the remaining two men and are urging anyone with information to come forward by the end of the week. The investigation will continue as the authorities prepare to present the case in court.
A local resident, who witnessed the assault, told reporters that the park’s “peaceful evening” turned into a nightmare when the men pretended to be law‑enforcers. She hopes the arrest will deter future crimes.