New Delhi: A month after the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl inside Aastha Kunj Park, a spot check Thursday evening revealed large stretches of the sprawling green space poorly lit, almost no guard at entry gates and locked guard posts, raising questions over security arrangements as dusk sets in.
TOI reached the park around 6.30pm and walked through several stretches, checking multiple entry points. Around 7.30pm, some groups of men were still exercising and boys were seen walking inside.
The guard said personnel were deployed in shifts and entry was restricted after 7pm. At that hour, the park was still frequented by people from all walks of life — families, women walking alone or in groups, elderly residents chatting on benches, children and pet owners. However, while streetlights illuminated some pathways, large, densely vegetated patches and stretches with benches remained shrouded in darkness. No security personnel were seen during the walk through the park. Within half an hour, the scene changed dramatically. By 7pm, the park was nearly deserted, with most families, women and elderly visitors having left. Several gates remained open, while broken sections of the boundary wall also offered easy access into the park. A guard in civilian clothes was eventually found at one of the gates. He explained that guards posted at the entrances might be walking through the park to check the premises and ask visitors to leave. However, no guard was found during TOI’s hour-long walk through the park, and the guard posts at the gates checked remained locked. Despite the incident, residents continued to visit the park during early evening, though shopkeepers and locals cautioned that it was unsafe for women to remain there after dark.
The spot check comes a month after the girl was allegedly gang-raped by three men inside the park on Sept 21. The college suspended physical classes temporarily, sought increased police patrolling and subsequently announced a students’ security council to coordinate with police and administration. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Delhi | Silver Rate in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Petrol Price in Delhi | Diesel Price in Delhi | CNG Price in Delhi | LPG Price in Delhi Stay updated with the latest Delhi news.
The accused allegedly posed as policemen, separated the girl from her male friend and took her to an isolated spot, where she was sexually assaulted, according to police. An officer said a PCR vehicle was stationed there during the day and afternoon following the incident. An FIR was registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The case had raised concerns over the park’s security infrastructure, including lighting and patrolling. Following the incident, Delhi govt directed a safety audit of all city parks within a week, focusing on lighting, security, patrolling and cleanliness. Delhi Police was also directed to strengthen beat patrolling, including through Pink Police deployment. A month later, however, TOI’s visit found a different picture. The incident also brought safety concerns to the fore at nearby Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR), where an accused was apprehended following an exchange of fire with police near the institute’s rear gate. During the visit, a PCR vehicle with two officers, a male and a female, was found stationed near the rear gate. A little ahead, a Pink Police booth outside the college was also manned by a male police officer. Download the TOI App.