Delhi: Visually-impaired 20-year-old left alone for first-time. She gets gang-raped
What's the story
For the first time, the mother of a 20-year-old visually-impaired woman in a slum near Delhi's Karol Bagh decided to leave her alone at home as she went out briefly. But her hopes turned into ash when three men dragged her daughter out and gang-raped her in those 30 minutes. A step filled with aspirations will now forever be a major regret for her.
Family
Mother took extreme care of daughter, especially since door broke
The victim had lost sight in both her eyes when she was five, HT reports. Eventually, she dropped out of school in Class 4. The mother used to take extreme care of her, especially since a blaze in October damaged the door of their shanty. "I couldn't gather enough money to get a door fixed," said the mother, who sells scrap for a living.
Attack
Accused made a move as soon as mother left home
The mother used to take her along whenever she fetched water or went to toilet every day, but on Friday, it was too hot, so she left her at home. After she left, Chotu Pal, the suspect, approached the 20-year-old at home and lured her with chocolates and biscuits. She refused. Pal then threatened her, but she still refused.
Rape
When accused didn't answer her calls, mother informed police
Next, Pal "dragged me into the jhuggi before immediately covering my mouth with his hands," the girl recounted her ordeal. "There were one or two men already inside," she said, adding the others never spoke a word. Afterwards, she crawled back into their hut. When her mother returned, she told her. The mother called Pal, but when he didn't answer, she called police.
Statement
Discrepancies in statement, police claim
A rape case has been registered. Pal, a 21-year-old e-rickshaw driver, has been arrested and two associates detained. However, discrepancies have been reported in her statement. While she told police there was only one rapist as two stood guard, she told HT there were two-three men involved. More than five women have been raped in Delhi daily till April 15 this year.