1 day ago
Alleged Gang Rape Spurs Scrutiny of Delhi Park Safety
A 17-year-old girl was allegedly attacked by three men at Aastha Kunj Park in Delhi.
The men allegedly pretended to be police officers.
The incident made people question whether the park is safe after dark.
Residents said some areas are poorly lit and parts of the boundary walls are damaged.
They also said it is difficult to watch all the entrances and exits.
The park is managed by the Delhi Development Authority, or DDA.
The DDA said it added night guards, patrols and lights in dark areas.
A safety check of all DDA parks has been ordered for next week.
A 17-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by three men posing as police personnel at Aastha Kunj Park on Monday.
Residents and welfare associations cited poor lighting, damaged boundary walls and inadequate security at the 142-acre park.
Residents questioned the Delhi Development Authority’s management of large public parks and their multiple entry and exit points.
The DDA said it had added night guards, patrols and lighting at identified dark spots.
Lieutenant Governor T.S. Sandhu directed a safety audit of all DDA parks by next week.
- Who
- A 17-year-old girl, three alleged attackers posing as police personnel, local residents, welfare associations and the Delhi Development Authority.
- What
- An alleged gang rape at Aastha Kunj Park has prompted scrutiny of park security and maintenance.
- Where
- Aastha Kunj Park in the Kalkaji area of southeast Delhi.
- When
- The alleged incident occurred on Monday; a safety audit of DDA parks is due by next week.
- Why
- Residents said poor lighting, damaged boundary walls and inadequate security may leave the park vulnerable after dark.
Residents and Welfare Associations
Delhi Development Authority and Authorities
Responsibility for park safety
Residents and Welfare Associations
Residents and welfare associations said the DDA should be held accountable for the condition, security and management of parks under its control. They suggested neighbourhood safety committees involving residents, police and others if the DDA cannot maintain the parks effectively.
Delhi Development Authority and Authorities
The DDA said it was taking interim measures, including deploying additional night guards, conducting regular patrols and using bike patrols with torches and safety equipment.
Lighting and monitoring
Residents and Welfare Associations
Residents reported poorly lit parks, damaged boundary walls and inadequate monitoring of multiple entry and exit points, and called for clearly displayed timings and adequate lighting throughout the premises.
Delhi Development Authority and Authorities
The DDA said it was installing additional lighting at identified dark spots and conducting patrols to cover the entire park.
Broader park management
Residents and Welfare Associations
Welfare associations questioned whether existing arrangements were sufficient across the DDA’s more than 700 parks and other green assets.
Delhi Development Authority and Authorities
Lieutenant Governor T.S. Sandhu directed a safety audit of all DDA parks, with several interim safety measures expected.
Key facts
- Park
- Aastha Kunj Park
- Location
- Kalkaji, southeast Delhi
- Park area
- 142 acres
- Managing agency
- Delhi Development Authority
- Reported security concerns
- Poor lighting, damaged boundary walls and inadequate monitoring
- DDA response
- Additional night guards, regular patrols, bike patrols and lighting at identified dark spots
- Review ordered
- A safety audit of all DDA parks by next week
Quotes
A south Delhi resident
Resident who previously visited Aastha Kunj Park
“If DDA needs outside agencies or adoption models to maintain parks effectively, why has it not established a consistently effective system of basic security and maintenance within parks under its direct jurisdiction?”
deccanchronicle.com
“One of the biggest issues is that these are huge parks, which are under DDA, but there is no proper ownership.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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