Heavy rain, darkness, drawn curtains: The bus ride that ended in gang rape

The girl alleged that both the driver and conductor subsequently raped her and threatened to kill her when she resisted.

NEW DELHI: Stranded amid heavy rain and darkness after getting off at the wrong stop, a 16-year-old from Uttar Pradesh was allegedly gang-raped inside a moving sleeper bus after boarding the vehicle seeking help, police said on Monday.The bus then travelled nearly 47 kilometres before the teenager was allegedly abandoned near Kashmere Gate.The incident took place on the night of August 4 after the teenager, from Mainpuri district, left home following a disagreement with her family and set out to meet her cousin in Noida.Wrong stop amid rain and darknessAccording to police, the girl got off at Pari Chowk by mistake amid heavy rain and darkness. An empty sleeper bus passing through the area stopped after she signalled for help.The driver, Kuldeep, and conductor, Sandeep, allegedly told her that the bus was headed towards Noida Sector 63 and allowed her to board.Curtains drawn as bus movesPolice said the conductor allegedly began making obscene advances towards the teenager soon after the bus started moving.The girl alleged that both the driver and conductor subsequently raped her and threatened to kill her when she resisted.The sleeper bus had curtains around its berths, which police said allegedly helped the accused conceal what was happening inside during the journey.The bus travelled nearly 47 kilometres towards Kashmere Gate. The accused allegedly abandoned the teenager on Ring Road near the Kashmere Gate bus terminal late at night and fled.Girl approaches police after being abandonedThe terrified student approached Kashmere Gate police and reported the incident.Police subsequently arrested Kuldeep and Sandeep from a bus parking area in Timarpur and seized the sleeper bus. The vehicle has been sent for forensic examination.Bus was heading to Timarpur after repairsInvestigators said the bus had earlier broken down and was taken to a workshop in Surajpur for repairs. After the repairs were completed, the driver and conductor were taking the empty bus to Timarpur when they encountered the teenager at Pari Chowk.Further investigation is underway.(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)