Nameless, faceless migrants biggest threats to minors

NEW DELHI: Govindpuri in south-east Delhi was set up as a transit camp for families to be resettled in Ambedkar Nagar during the Asiad Games. Today it is notoriously

NEW DELHI: Govindpuri in south-east Delhi was set up as a transit camp for families to be resettled in Ambedkar Nagar during the Asiad Games. Today it is notoriously infamous for recording the highest number of minor rapes in the capital.

HT Image

Home to over 5.5 lakh people, 80% being migrants from different states, the area has over eight slum clusters, a jungle, and some pockets of middle-class Kalkaji Extension.

In 2014, the area recorded 37 rapes, second highest in the capital. Among the 37 raped, 22 were found to be minors. In 2015, 35 cases of rape were reported from the area and in 2016, 22 cases were reported. The number of minors raped in the area during 2015-16 stood at 13, police records say.

With only 11 urinals across 11 locations in the area and four common toilets without any doors, most people go to the Tughlaqabad jungle, popularly known as ‘TKD’, to relieve themselves. Many minors are reportedly sexually assaulted by men when they go to the jungle.

“Recently two minors were abducted when they were on their way to the toilet, taken into the jungle and raped. Men sit there and smoke marijuana. Sometimes they even sit behind bushes and consume alcohol. They then tease women and sexually assault them. In a case reported in 2013, a man abducted a minor, showed her porn clips on his phone and then sexually assaulted her on a ridge,” a senior police officer said.

The police said that most of the men who see minors as easy targets are migrants and have no record of their existence and hence have lesser chances of being caught. “Among 5.5 lakh people residing in the area, only 1.5 lakh are registered voters and the rest do not have any record of their existence. In most cases, accused are masons or labourers who are living away from their families and have urges. It becomes difficult to trace them as they do not have a permanent address,” an investigator explained. “The houses have no numbers, the lanes are congested. For any new recruit, it is difficult to get familiar to the area,” he added.

Another problem being faced by the police is a severe staff crunch. For 5.5 lakh people there are only 162 police personnel posted at Govindpuri police station. There are only 65 beat staff. “Technically one beat staff official is taking care of 8,500 persons on an average. Most beat officials are often busy with court proceedings. We do not even have enough women police officers to deal with rape cases,” a police officer said.