Ground report: Rape at New Delhi Railway Station puts question mark on security, crime spot was under nose of security personnel

The New Delhi Railway Station has a police station right next to the building. (Express photo)

On Tuesday, The Indian Express visited the railway station and found that the security around the spot is barely up to standards. Moreover, officers from RPF and Delhi Police shift the blame on each other when asked about the security and safety of passengers.

“Our personnel keep a strong vigil at all platforms,” said a sub inspector-level officer from RPF. (Express photo)

The New Delhi Railway Station has a police station right next to the building. It is hardly a 5-minute walk from the spot. A second station is under the RPF and is situated on Platform 1 of the railway station. While every station and police post is 500-700 metres away from the spot, there is hardly any staff deployed during the wee hours. From 6.30 am to 8 am, the police booths/posts were empty. Only a few personnel were available at the stations. One of the police booths is at the entry gate of the railway station where parking, theft and other issues are often reported.

A sub inspector-level officer from RPF, who refused to be named, said, “The segregation of the duties is very clear. We work to report thefts and smaller crimes. Our staff also helps in cases of accidents and suicides. Rape and other heinous crimes come under the Delhi Police. We were not even told about the incident. The complainant had directly approached Delhi Police.”

Most of the checking points are only guarded by one security staffer. (Express photo)

“Our personnel keep a strong vigil at all platforms. The woman had come with a railway employee and was in the staff room. There was no complaint or intimation by anyone. Had it been a sudden attack, we would have known,” added the officer.

The staff room is right below the foot overbridge on Platform No 8 and 9. Only a few passengers and railway staffers were found present in the morning hours. A 2-3 minute walk from the spot brings the passenger to Platform 1 which is bustling with passengers, vendors, etc. There is an RPF police station, waiting rooms, officer’s rooms, two entry/exit points with security personnel and a help desk at the platform.

A senior police officer from Delhi Police said, “The woman knew one of the accused and came to the room on her own.” (Express photo)

A shopkeeper at the station said, “We heard about the incident. The police often come here for rounds but the incident took place at 2-3 am. There are only a few passengers and workers here that time. Most of the staffers go home.”

Outside the railway station is another help desk and a police booth that is vacant.

“There were RPF personnel deployed near the spot but they did not report the matter to us,” said a senior police official. (Express photo)

A senior police officer from Delhi Police said, “We arrested all four accused within hours of receiving the woman’s complaint. Our staff is active at the station but the incident took place inside the staffer’s room. The woman knew one of the accused and came to the room on her own. The accused had promised to get her a job and had invited her on the pretext of throwing a party for his son.”

“The woman approached us right after the incident. There were RPF personnel deployed near the spot but they did not report the matter to us. We have been looking into the security to ensure no such crimes take place at the station,” he added.