Numbers tell the story of how unsafe Delhi's women are. Till October 24 this year, 580 cases of rape were reported from the Capital, in comparison to 482 during the same period in 2011.

In all, 568 cases of rape were reported in 2011. In 2010, this figure was lower -- 507. Cases of molestation too saw a rise. From 601 cases in 2010, the number rose to 653 in 2011.

"Delhi Police are focusing on the prevention of crime against women. But in most rape and molestation cases, the accused were known to the victim or her family. In nearly all rape cases reported in 2011, accused were first-time criminals," a senior police officer said. 

Take for instance the case of the 16-year-old girl from Nepal who was gangraped by four men for nearly a week. They took advantage of the fact that she had fled her parents' home and did not want to go back there.

The girl told the police that she shifted with them to their Bharat Nagar flat because she  had no other option.

The four men who have been arrested have been remanded in police custody for two days by a Delhi court. The girl also told the police that the men used to talk like policemen on the phone.

The girl's mother had reportedly filed a missing complaint on September 15 but the police claimed that the girl had left the house on her own.

When questioned about the rising number of such incidents, the senior police officer claimed that special measures had been introduced to enhance the confidence of the public, including women.

"These include establishing predominantly women-staffed police stations in north and south campus and deployment of PCR vans near girl colleges," he added.