Out to meet Facebook friend, woman ‘raped’ in Delhi; bit suspect’s finger to escape

Investigators have alerted their informers for any tip-off on any middle-aged man in east Delhi neighbourhoods with an injured finger.

A 19-year-old woman has alleged that she was raped twice by a man after he chased her male friend away in east Delhi’s Ghazipur last Friday evening, police said.

An Indian social activist hold placards during a protest against a rape at Hauz Khas village in New Delhi on February 21, 2017. Police have arrested a suspect over the rape of a 24-year-old woman, who was sexually assaulted in a public park in New Delhi's Hauz Khas locality after she left home from a pub late February 19. / AFP PHOTO / SAJJAD HUSSAIN (AFP)

The woman told the police that she bit the rapist’s finger to finally free herself. She approached the police on Saturday and a rape case was registered. The suspect remained unidentified till the time of filing this report.

“The suspect seems to be in his 50s, but is yet to be identified. Efforts are on to obtain his description from the woman’s friend who, too, had seen him,” said Omvir Singh, DCP (East).

Investigators have alerted their informers for any tip-off on any middle-aged man in east Delhi neighbourhoods with an injured finger.

The woman lives in a rented accommodation in east Delhi’s New Kondli.

According to the DCP, she had befriended a minor boy on Facebook some time ago. On Friday evening, the duo was meeting for the first time in Ghazipur Paper Market.

Another police officer aware of the case said that the suspect had approached the teenagers and objected to their meeting. “He sent the boy away and offered to escort the woman home,” said the officer.

The woman has alleged that during the rape, he also hit her on the face. “She suffered abrasions on her nose. In her complaint, she’s mentioned that she was able to escape after she bit one of his fingers,” said the officer.

The woman returned home that day, but decided to approach the police on Saturday. The police have roped in the authorities, who are allowed to question minors to speak to her friend in a bid to get some clues about the identity of the suspect.