A horrifying incident of gang rape has shaken the city of Dehradun, Uttarakhand. A teenage girl was allegedly assaulted by a bus driver and his associates at the interstate bus terminus (ISBT) on the intervening nights of August 12 and 13. The five accused, all connected to the Uttarakhand Roadways bus service, have been apprehended by the state police.
According to police reports, the victim is mentally unstable and was found wandering at Kashmere Gate in Delhi by the bus driver, Dharmendra Kumar. He convinced her to board the Uttarakhand Roadways bus to Dehradun, promising to help her reach Punjab.
The girl was later discovered by a guard at the Dehradun ISBT, who reported the incident. She was unable to provide her full name but indicated she was from Patiala and had no parents. Her mental state raised concerns, and the guard contacted the child helpline (1098).
During questioning, the girl revealed that she had been raped by five individuals. She also mentioned being an orphan and a resident of Punjab, later correcting this to Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh. She had traveled from Moradabad to Delhi and then taken the bus to Dehradun.
Police investigation revealed that the girl’s parents are alive and she had a history of running away from home without informing her family. The five accused have been identified as Dharmendra Kumar (bus driver), Devendra (conductor), Rajpal (driver), Rajesh Kumar Sonkar (cashier), and Ravi Kumar (driver).
The investigation revealed that Devendra, the conductor, had seen the girl at Kashmiri Gate in Delhi asking for directions to Punjab. He suggested she board their bus to Dehradun, and then take another bus to Punjab via Paonta Sahib.
The Dehradun SSP, Ajay Singh, confirmed the arrest of all five accused and stated that the investigation is ongoing. The horrific incident has sparked outrage and calls for justice, highlighting the need for enhanced safety measures for women, especially vulnerable individuals, in public transportation.
