New Delhi, Sep 19: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday raised concerns over women’s safety in Delhi following the alleged gang rape and murder of a teenage girl, questioning the lack of accountability over crimes against women.

Priyanka Gandhi took to social media ‘X’ and said, “In Delhi, all limits of cruelty were crossed against a 17-year-old girl, and after that, she was brutally murdered. Just a few days earlier, another minor girl was raped. No one in the country is willing to take responsibility for women’s safety, only empty talk about women’s development is offered. Hundreds of women face atrocities and violence, but they cannot hope for concrete action against the perpetrators, FIRs aren’t even filed.”

“Both society and the government have completely failed in granting women their rights to safety, freedom, and equality,” she said.

Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had also raised the issue on Friday night, describing the incident as unfortunate and questioning the responsibility of authorities for ensuring women’s safety in the national Capital.

LoP Rahul Gandhi took to social media ‘X’ and said, “In Delhi, a 17-year-old girl was gang-raped, murdered, and her body was dumped in an open field. Such a horrific act of brutality in the capital, and the police had no clue for days. It’s unfortunate that Delhi is no longer the capital today; it has become a terrifying daily story for women.”

“Amit Shah ji, Delhi Police is under your control. Ultimately, whose responsibility is women’s safety? Or has the job of Delhi Police been reduced to just intimidating and threatening ordinary citizens? Because the criminals are roaming around fearlessly,” LoP Gandhi said.

Rahul Gandhi also called for strict action, and punishment against the rapists and murderers of the minor girl.

“The beasts must be arrested immediately, strict action and punishment must be taken, and accountability for this criminal negligence must be fixed. India cannot move forward without women’s safety,” LoP Gandhi said.

The minor girl was allegedly gang-raped and murdered by four persons, including three juveniles, in Delhi, with police saying the accused subsequently abandoned her body in an open area.

Parts of the victim’s decomposed body were later found to have been eaten by stray dogs.

According to police, the incident came to light on September 13 when the girl’s severely decomposed body was discovered near Jaipal Rana’s field along Kushak Road in the Swaroop Nagar area of North Delhi. The condition of the body was such that police could not initially determine the victim’s gender.

Police said the victim was acquainted with the accused and had been travelling with them in a tempo. During the journey, the group allegedly consumed alcohol before the girl was sexually assaulted. She was subsequently stabbed to death, after which her body was allegedly dumped in the open field.

Investigators said stray dogs had eaten parts of the body, while one of the victim’s hands was found detached from the rest of the body.

Police said the girl’s family had not lodged a missing person complaint. During questioning, her relatives reportedly told investigators that she would sometimes leave home and return after staying away for several days.

A case was registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Since there were no apparent eyewitnesses and the identities of the suspects were initially unknown, police began examining CCTV footage from the area.

Investigators analysed footage from more than 50 CCTV cameras installed along the suspected crime scene and adjoining routes. During the exercise, police noticed a tempo moving in the vicinity around the relevant period. However, its registration number could not be identified clearly because of poor visibility and darkness.

The investigators subsequently tracked the vehicle’s movements through footage from several locations. A night-long operation was conducted during the intervening night of September 15 and 16, following which the tempo was traced.

Police then identified and questioned its driver. The investigation eventually led to the apprehension of four persons allegedly connected with the incident, including three juveniles.

The adult accused has been identified as Shivam, alias Sudama, alias Chuchu, a resident of Khadda Colony, police said. The three juveniles apprehended in connection with the case are aged 16 and 17.

According to police, two knives allegedly used during the crime, clothes purportedly worn by the accused and the tempo have been recovered.

Mumbai, Sep 19: A second-year student of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay died by suicide after he was found using a mobile phone during an examination, triggering protests by students on the institute’s Powai campus. The incident took place on Friday evening and marks the third reported suicide at the IIT Powai campus in the past six months.

The deceased student was identified as Sahil Wakode, who was pursuing his second year in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering. According to the institute, Wakode had uploaded an examination question paper to ChatGPT in an attempt to obtain answers while the test was underway.

IIT Bombay said no disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against him following the incident. The matter was discussed with the student by the examination instructor and the Head of the Department. They counselled him and assured him that the incident would not have an adverse impact on his academic career, the institute said.

After the discussion, Wakode returned to his hostel room. He was subsequently found dead in the room later that evening.

In a statement, IIT Bombay expressed grief over the student’s death and said it was providing support to those affected by the incident.

“The Institute is extending support to the student’s friends, classmates, faculty members, and others affected by this tragic incident,” it said, adding that the circumstances surrounding the death were being examined by the appropriate authorities.

Following the incident, a group of students gathered on the campus and launched a protest, alleging that the administration had not disclosed all details surrounding the circumstances of the student’s death.

Some protesters claimed that Wakode had been threatened with a one-year suspension over the examination incident. They alleged that such a suspension could have required him to leave the hostel and stay outside the campus.

Students further claimed that disciplinary action of this nature could potentially have delayed completion of his engineering course beyond the standard four-year duration.

Protesting students alleged that the fear and pressure associated with possible disciplinary consequences may have played a role in the student’s death. However, these allegations have not been independently verified.

The protesters called for greater transparency and accountability from the institute’s administration.

“The reason for our protest is that a suicide took place in our college today. That is why we have gathered to protest and demand accountability, transparency, and answers from our administration,” a student said.

Another student claimed that several such incidents had occurred on campus this year and questioned whether sufficient steps were being taken to understand their causes.

Police personnel were deployed in large numbers on the campus following the protest. Discussions were also held between representatives of the students and the institute administration.

Senior police officer Dattatray Nalawade said an investigation into the student’s death was underway.

He said students had assembled to raise their concerns following the incident, while the IIT administration held talks with them in an effort to resolve the situation.

New Delhi, Sep 19: The Delhi Police have solved a cheating and theft case with the arrest of an accused and apprehension of a Child in Conflict with the Law (CCL), recovering a pair of stolen gold earrings, officials said on Saturday.

According to the Dwarka District Police, the accused lured a woman with the promise of sharing Rs 2 lakh and deceitfully obtained her gold jewellery. Counterfeit currency notes were used to deceive the victim.

An online e-FIR, No. 80076405/2026, under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), was registered at Dabri Police Station on September 10 following a complaint regarding the theft of gold jewellery.

After receiving the information, a police team reached the spot and met the complainant, Rajbala, wife of Satender Kumar. During the initial enquiry, she told the police that unknown persons had taken away one pair of gold earrings and a gold pendant from her possession. Subsequently, an online e-FIR was registered at Dabri Police Station.

Following directions issued by Kushal Pal Singh, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Dwarka District, a dedicated team was constituted to investigate the case and recover the stolen jewellery. The team comprised Head Constables Bachchoo Singh, Mahesh, Rajender and Somvir. The team worked under the supervision of Inspector Ganga Ram Meena, Station House Officer, Dabri, and the overall supervision of Harneet Singh, ACP, Dabri Sub-Division.

During the investigation, CCTV footage from cameras installed at and around the crime scene was examined. The footage showed two boys approaching the woman on foot and asking her about the location of an ATM.

The suspects told the woman that they were carrying Rs 2 lakh and offered to share the money with her. They then allegedly induced her to hand over her gold jewellery in exchange for a share of the amount.

The woman subsequently removed a pair of gold earrings and a gold pendant and handed them over to the two boys. In return, she received a bundle of currency notes from them. The notes were later found to be counterfeit, police said.

As part of the investigation, CCTV footage covering a distance of approximately 20 km was analysed. The movement of the suspects was traced towards Raghubir Nagar in Delhi, following which the accused was identified as Vishal, son of Lakshman, and apprehended along with a CCL.

Police said one pair of gold earrings allegedly involved in the case was recovered from Vishal’s possession. During interrogation, he disclosed his identity as Vishal, a 26-year-old resident of Raghubir Nagar, Delhi.

Police said efforts were continuing to trace and recover the remaining stolen gold pendant.

The accused has been identified as Vishal, 26, a resident of Raghubir Nagar, while one CCL has also been apprehended in connection with the case.

Police said Vishal was previously involved in FIR No. 144/26 under Sections 318(4)/3(5) of the BNS, registered at Vikaspuri Police Station, Delhi.