NEW DELHI: A string of rape and sexual assault cases in India’s capital has triggered growing concerns over women’s safety, prompting women and students to take to the streets demanding safer public spaces and stronger action against those involved sexual violence.
Several cases of rape, gang rape, abduction and sexual assault against women and minor girls have been reported in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) in recent weeks.
The incidents have also prompted protests at several educational institutions, where female students have raised concerns over security, harassment and restrictions on women’s movement.
Among the cases that have drawn public attention is the rape and killing of a 16-year-old girl in north-west Delhi.
According to police, the girl was raped by four men in Swaroop Nagar on September 10 and was subsequently killed. Her body was recovered on September 13.
In another case, a 10-year-old girl was abducted and sexually assaulted by a 56-year-old man after she left home to buy stationery around midnight on September 16. Police registered a case under the POCSO Act and provisions relating to wrongful confinement.
A six-year-old girl was also sexually assaulted in central Delhi on September 21. A 34-year-old man was caught by local residents.
In a separate case, a 17-year-old girl was gang-raped on her birthday by three men who reportedly posed as police officers. The suspects were arrested between September 22 and 24.
Students Protest
The growing rape cases have fuelled protests by women and students across Delhi.
On September 23, students at Lady Shri Ram College held a large protest over security and sexual harassment. Two days later, women students from several Delhi University colleges joined a major demonstration demanding safety and freedom of movement.
The protest followed the reported sexual assault of a minor girl in Bihar’s Jamui district on September 19.
Students raised concerns about surveillance, restrictions on women’s mobility and the security arrangements around educational institutions.
Women protesters chanted slogans including “Hum Auratein Aazad Hain” — “We, women, are free”.
The protests have also drawn attention to allegations involving law-enforcement personnel in some of the cases, adding to demands for transparent investigations and accountability.
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) organised a “Campus Justice March” on September 26 under the slogan “Make Delhi Safe Again”.
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The Human Rights Research and Advocacy Centre (HRRC) also expressed support for victims, their families and protesting students, calling for transparent investigations into the reported cases.
Wider Concern About Safety
The recent incidents have renewed concerns about the safety of women and girls in Delhi, one of India’s largest urban centres.
National Crime Records Bureau data for 2023 showed that, on average, about three minor girls were raped every day in Delhi.
The recently reported cases have involved different locations and circumstances, including public areas, educational surroundings and incidents in which the attackers were known to the victims.
