Arrest Made in Shocking Crime
Delhi Police have apprehended a 32-year-old cab driver for the kidnapping, rape, and murder of a 15-year-old girl. The suspect, identified as Ravi Kumar, was arrested on June 22, two days after the victim's body was discovered in a forest area near the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer North) Ravi Kumar Singh, the accused confessed to the crime during interrogation.
The Incident and Investigation
The minor went missing on June 18 after leaving her home in the Bawana area to meet a friend. Her family filed a missing person report the same day. On June 20, a passerby spotted her body in a forest near the Singhu border and alerted police. Forensic teams collected evidence, including a mobile phone and a scarf found near the scene. CCTV footage from nearby locations helped identify the cab driver, who was traced to his residence in Alipur.
Police revealed that the accused lured the girl into his cab, drove her to a secluded spot, raped her, and then strangled her. He dumped her body in the forest and fled. The post-mortem report confirmed rape and strangulation as the cause of death. Ravi Kumar, a father of two, had been driving a cab for three years and had no prior criminal record, according to police records.
Legal Action and Community Response
The accused has been booked under sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 376 (rape), 302 (murder), 363 (kidnapping), and relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He was produced before a local court on June 23 and remanded to police custody for seven days. The victim's family has demanded strict punishment, and local residents have held protests seeking justice. DCP Singh stated, "We have gathered strong evidence, and the accused will face the full force of the law."
Broader Context
This case highlights the ongoing concerns about women's safety in Delhi. According to National Crime Records Bureau data, Delhi reported 1,245 cases of rape in 2022, one of the highest among Indian cities. In response to this incident, the Delhi Commission for Women has issued a notice to the police seeking a detailed action report. The cab driver's arrest brings some relief, but the community remains shaken by the brutality of the crime.
