21-year-old gang-raped on busy Kolkata road

A 21-year-old woman, working in one of the biggest malls in Kolkata, was allegedly gang-raped while returning home after work on Sunday evening.

Even before the Madhayamgram gang-rape incident could die down, the latest incident - in the heart of Kolkata - has come as a blot for the Bengal government.

The woman is stated to be serious and presently admitted at the Howrah State Hospital. Top Kolkata police officers have gone to Howrah to investigate the case.

According to sources, the girl - a resident of Howrah - had left the mall at 7.30pm along with other colleagues and friends. She came to the Hastings crossing where others got off and the girl hailed a shuttle taxi to take her home.

"The woman has alleged that as soon as she got into the taxi and crossed the Princep Ghat area adjoining the Ganga, five men forced her out of the taxi after threatening her with a weapon, took her inside a parked truck and took turns to rape her. They then finally abandoned her near a ground adjoining the Army barracks and fled," said a senior officer from Kolkata police.



The accused took away her mobile phone so that she could not contact anyone.

The girl regained consciousness only early morning. Though bleeding profusely, no one came to her aid. The woman then took a ferry and crossed over to the Howrah station where the police admitted her to hospital. The condition of the woman is stated to be critical and she is likely to be shifted to the SSKM Hospital in Kolkata for better treatment.



Though the Howrah city police initially registered a zero FIR, the case has now been transferred to the Watgunge police station under the Port division in Kolkata. "We have registered a case and are looking in to CCTV footage and questioning taxi drivers to nab the accused," said DCP (Port) V Solomon Kumar. The detective department has formed a separate team to investigate the case.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/21-year-old-gang-raped-on-busy-Kolkata-road/articleshow/29106633.cms

UK cautions travellers in India after rape of Dane

NEW DELHI: India's image as an unsafe destination for women travellers was further consolidated after reports that a 51-year-old Danish woman was gang-raped in Delhi. The UK foreign office issued a travel advisory on Thursday cautioning its citizens on travel in the country even as the tourism industry lamented the damage that violent crimes against women had caused.

This, coupled with sluggish growth, has acted as a death knell for the industry, experts said.

Advisor to the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) Rajinder Rai said, "Such incidents are disgraceful and cause serious damage to the image of the country. It is scary that time and again such incidents continue to happen.''

An Assocham survey conducted recently said women foreign tourists to the country had declined by 35% and overall tourism was affected by 25%.

The number of foreign tourists coming to India grew a modest 4% between January and December 2013, coinciding with women travellers' perception of the country as a safe destination hitting rock bottom. This is less than the 5% growth in 2012 and 13% in 2011. Expansion in foreign tourist arrivals worldwide was pegged at around 5% during the first nine months of 2013, according to data from the World Travel Organization.

India's total foreign tourist arrivals in 2013 stood at 6.84 million. In comparison, China received 132 million and Singapore got 14 million (end-2012 figures) visitors.

Industry sources said women travelers were skipping India from their itinerary. A hotelier said, "The last one year has caused deep concern among first-time visitors who feel that India is unsafe as a destination. We try our best to reassure them but there is little that can be done with the increasingly regularity of such crimes against women.''

In a bid to quell the panic, the tourism ministry has introduced a 'I respect women' campaign that includes advertisements and promotions addressing these concerns. The ministry has also issued an advisory on its website cautioning women.

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/UK-cautions-travellers-in-India-after-rape-of-Dane/articleshow/28914973.cms?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral 

Danish tourist gangraped in Delhi

The woman was returning to her hotel in Paharganj from Connaught Place

A 51-year-old Danish tourist was allegedly gang-raped by more than half-a-dozen men at knife point near New Delhi railway station on Monday night, police said on Tuesday.

Police have registered a case and several suspects have been detained for questioning.

Although senior police official remained tight-lipped about the case, police sources said that the incident took place when the victim, who was returning to her hotel in Paharganj from Connaught Place, lost her way.

She then approached a group of men for directions, who instead of helping her, allegedly took her to a secluded place and took turns to rape her on knife point.

They also robbed her of valuables.

She then returned to her hotel and narrated the incident to the manager, who in turn called the police at around 8:30 p.m.

A case has been registered at the Paharganj Police Station.

The Danish Embassy was also informed. The woman has been taken to the Embassy after recording her statement with the police.

According to sources, the victim has refused to undergo a medical examination and has expressed her desire to return home.

Source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/danish-tourist-gangraped-in-delhi/article5577707.ece?homepage=true 

51-year-old Danish woman allegedly gangraped in Delhi

In a shocking incident, a 51-year-old Danish tourist was gangraped by unidentified men at knife point near New Delhi Railway Station of the national capital. The assailants also robbed her of money and valuables. Police have registered a case against eight unidentified assailants.




As per initial reports, the woman had gone to visit the national museum. While returning to Paharganj to her hotel she lost way near New Delhi Railway station. A group of indentified men took her to a secluded spot at knife point and gangraped her.




She reached her hotel and informed her friend about the incident who informed the Danish Embassy. Senior police officers reached the hotel after being informed by the embassy officials.

A case has been registered against eight unidentified men. Police are trying to identify the assailants.

Meanwhile, the woman has gone to the Danish Embassy after recording her statement with the police. She is likely to leave India after medical test on Wednesday. Investigation is on.

Source:http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/danish-woman-gangraped-near-new-delhi-railway-station/1/336217.html

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/danish-woman-gangraped-near-new-delhi-railway-station/1/336217.html

51-year-old Danish woman gang-raped, robbed in Delhi

In a shameful incident, a 51-year-old Danish national was gang-raped by a group of men near New Delhi railway station Tuesday night.

Reports say that a Danish woman, who was here on a tourist visa had gone to visit a museum and while returning to her hotel in Paharganj lost her way in the area when a group of men stopped her way and robbed, gang-raped her.


The woman after returning to her hotel narrated her ordeal to her near ones, who further informed the police.

The Danish embassy has also pitched in and asked the authorities for swift action.

Delhi police have zeroed in several people and interrogating them. The officials suspect that the people who are drug addicts and stay at roadside in the Paharganj area might be involved in the crime.

The victim was supposed to leave for her native country Wednesday morning has been asked by the police to stay back and assist in probe.

Source:http://zeenews.india.com/news/delhi/51-year-old-danish-woman-gang-raped-robbed-in-delhi_904175.html

Danish woman allegedly robbed and gang-raped near New Delhi railway station

A Danish national has alleged that she was gang-raped by a group of men near New Delhi railway station on Tuesday night.

The accused suspects are vagabonds, police said. The victim, who is around 51-year-old, has claimed that the men also robbed her after the sexual assault.

In her statement to the police, the woman has said she was in India for the past one week. The victim first went to Agra and then arrived in the capital on Tuesday.

The woman checked in a hotel (hotel Amax). Later she went to visit National Museum on Tuesday evening. On her way back to hotel in the evening, she lost her way.

When she was inquiring about the hotel she was accosted by suspects. The victim claims she was sexually assaulted by vagabonds near New Delhi Railway Station. The tourist was also robbed of her belongings including cash and other valuables.

She somehow reached her hotel and informed the police and the Danish embassy.

Police have detained six suspects in the case on the basis of information provided by the woman. A case of gang rape under section 376 G (2) of IPC and robbery has been registered and Delhi Police teams are raiding several places to nab the suspects.
The incident comes weeks after a 16-year-old woman claimed she was sexually assaulted in a similar manner around the same place. She had however retracted her statement later and said she had not been raped at all. The police are investigating all angles in this case as well. 
Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Danish-woman-allegedly-robbed-and-gang-raped-near-New-Delhi-railway-station/articleshow/28819762.cms

Guns for women to defend themselves seem off-target - See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/comment/guns-for-women-to-defend-themselves-seem-off-target/article1-1172132.aspx#sthash.IVGWyDpJ.dpuf

Men who think that women are fair game may be in for a nasty surprise soon. For they might just find themselves staring down the barrel of a gun. The Indian Ordnance Factories (IOF) has come out with a weapon they think will help women protect themselves against anti-social elements. The IOF’s latest piece in its armoury is a 7.65 mm .32 revolver, ominously named ‘Nirbheek’. Of course, this suggests that women have to train themselves to be quick on the draw but it would be priceless to the see the expression on the faces of would-be molesters when the victim turns the tables.

So at just 500 gms this titanium alloy gun, priced at around  Rs. 1.22 lakh, could be the Indian women’s best friend. So, where the mobile apps, pepper sprays, taser guns and even China’s ‘hairy leg stockings’ have failed, the .32 is expected to hit the bulls eye. But we can’t help but feel that at this price, this is more a marketing gimmick than an actual tool to safeguard women. However, it is a nice thought. We have seen how often the villain is stopped in his tracks in the movies, when the heroine pulls out a delicate mother-of-pearl handled pistol from her bag. In the case of the Lara Croft-type of heroine, she pulls out the heavy artillery. However, the women-friendly gun could change gender equations altogether. But given our lads and their inherent tendency to harass women especially in public places, it is quite possible that some shyster manufacturer may design bullet proof vests for them so they can continue their nefarious ways and still survive the bullets that may be fired at them.

There is also the danger of bystanders being hit by women whose aim may be a bit awry. All this points to one thing — that the idea of a gun for women is a stupid one fraught with danger both to the victim and the offender. Which brings us to the question of how best a woman can protect herself — maybe our readers could take a shot at some possible solutions. 

- See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/comment/guns-for-women-to-defend-themselves-seem-off-target/article1-1172132.aspx#sthash.IVGWyDpJ.dpuf

Delhi Police needs ten times more cops for Arvind Kejriwal's security

Sarojini Naidu is believed to have said that it cost a lot of money to keep Mahatma Gandhi in poverty. Similarly, it takes ten times more cops for Delhi Police to keep chief minister Arvind Kejriwal an Aam Admi.

Recently retired IPS officers feel that Kejriwal may be acting unreasonable in refusing a security cover as even more cops could be needed on duty to secure him if he does not follow the regular protocol. Also, the new freefor-all political culture has the lurking danger of the Chief Minister being mobbed or attacked by a mischief-monger.

 

Two former Delhi Police commissioners that ET spoke to, BK Gupta and Neeraj Kumar, while appreciating the new Chief Minister's decision to decline a security escort, advised Kejriwal to take a modest security cover of 8-10 policemen for the sake of his own safety. "I am a fan of Kejriwal for his austerity measures. But he should remember that he is no longer a common person but represents the authority of a state. He needs police security, whether he likes it or not. He can opt for a less ostentatious and more unobtrusive cover," Gupta, who headed Delhi Police between 2010 and 2012, told ET.

He explained that around 8-10 Delhi policemen would be enough to secure Kejriwal if he takes a proximate cover, pointing out that over 100 policemen had to be posted to secure his journey on metro to the Ramlila Maidan last week. "1700 cops from local police stations had to be diverted from police station duties to Ram Lila Maidan for three days as the oath-taking ceremony happened there instead of the LG House where even 100 cops would have sufficed for security. All this also affects the public. Also, would one like the Delhi CM to be caught in traffic jam because he does not have a pilot or an escort car or personal security officers? Time is money for a CM and he can take important decisions in that period rather than being stranded in a jam," Gupta stressed.

Gupta said Kejriwal should have a few PSOs so as to not allow a repeat of incidents like the one involving Sharad Pawar, who was slapped by a person in Delhi in 2011. "There are a lot of mischief mongers...if a CM is slapped, attacked or pushed around, the police will have to take the blame. My suggestion to Kejriwal is to, at least, take half the security cover that the former Chief Minister had, just to ensure that he is not harmed," Gupta said.

His successor, Neeraj Kumar, said Kejriwal is a "politician with a difference" but advised him to let the law enforcers take the call on the threat assessment. "I think he is sending a symbolic message by not opting for security and his Ministers also cannot ask for the same. To that extent, we should appreciate it but what if someone takes a potshot at him? The cops will be held responsible then," Kumar said. Kejriwal has been experiencing trouble boarding his car and appearing in public as he is mobbed on every such appearance.

Source: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-12-31/news/45739800_1_arvind-kejriwal-security-cover-neeraj-kumar

Polish woman raped by cab driver-India

A 33-year-old Polish woman was raped by a cab driver who had offered her a ride while she was on her way to Delhi from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, police said on Saturday.

A zero First Information Report (which will be numbered later by the police station under whose jurisdiction the crime occurred) has been registered in Delhi, police said. Mathura is about 135 km from Delhi.

The victim said she was raped by the driver who offered her a lift on the Mathura-Delhi highway on the midnight of January 2. She said she trusted him and accepted his offer of a ride to the national capital.

She said she soon fell unconsciousness, and realized she had been assaulted sexually when she reached a bench outside the Nizammudin railway station in south Delhi.

The FIR has been registered at Paharganj in central Delhi.

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Polish-woman-raped-by-cab-driver/articleshow/28399883.cms