NEW DELHI, Sep 23 (TIWN): A 17-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by three men who posed as police officers at Aastha Kunj Park near Kalkaji Mandir in southeast Delhi, police said. All three accused have since been arrested.

According to the police account, the girl had visited Kalkaji Mandir with a 17-year-old male friend at around 7 pm on September 21. The two later went to Aastha Kunj Park, where the three men allegedly approached them and claimed to be policemen.

The accused allegedly told the teenagers that they were minors and were doing something wrong, and threatened them with legal action. They subsequently separated the girl from her friend and allegedly took her to a secluded area of the park.

Police said one of the accused, identified as Asif, allegedly threatened the girl with a firearm and a knife before sexually assaulting her. The other two accused, identified as Hemant and Mukesh, allegedly assaulted her subsequently.

The girl contacted the police, and a PCR call was received at around 8:45 pm. A team from Amar Colony police station reached the park and recorded her statement. She was subsequently taken for medical examination.

A case was registered under relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

All Three Accused Arrested

Police launched a search operation after the complaint. Asif was traced to the Amar Colony area and arrested following an exchange of fire with police, according to officials. Police said he fired at the team, with one bullet hitting a head constable's bulletproof jacket, after which police fired in self-defence and Asif sustained a leg injury.

The other two accused, Hemant and Mukesh, were subsequently arrested, bringing all three suspects into custody. Police are continuing to investigate their alleged roles in the incident.

Investigators have also examined CCTV footage from the surrounding area and collected material from the crime scene for forensic examination.

Police officials have also pointed to security vulnerabilities at Aastha Kunj Park, including broken sections of its boundary wall, unguarded gates and poorly lit areas. The investigation remains ongoing.