In a troubling development, two of the three men accused of gang-raping a 17-year-old girl at gunpoint in a Delhi park have reportedly deleted their mobile phone search histories and other data prior to their arrest. This information was disclosed by the police as they continue their investigation into the incident, which has raised significant concerns about safety and justice in the community.
The accused – Mukesh Singh (24) and Hemant Singh (31), both of whom are brothers – had started preparing for a possible police action and erased their search histories, besides a couple of videos and photos, before they were nabbed on Tuesday.
“It is confirmed that Asif was harassing people in the park and that Hemant was removed from a gym near his house. HT reported on Thursday that the brothers visited a restaurant immediately after committing the crime. “Asif works in Okhla Mandi and went there after the incident on Monday evening. Asif was spotted with a knife and harassing couples, by local residents inside the park, according to HT’s report on Thursday. The accused was sent to two days’ jail custody by a court on Wednesday.
“We found the two accused deleted all their search history on their phones. We don’t know what they searched for after the crime but they deleted it. They also deleted phone data, including photos and videos. Thereafter, they returned to their house in Sri Niwaspuri area, where they washed their clothes to erase all evidence. He soon found out through local residents that the police were searching for him. He was caught with his unlicensed firearm and knife which he was also carrying at the time of the crime, they added. “We have found objectionable videos on his phone. He also shot some videos in the park. He used to go to work out there but was removed after some women accused him of harassment. “He hardly went to college. The family is also in Palwal and Faridabad but the brothers were living in Delhi. They posed as policemen before targeting the couple.
The third accused was identified as Asif (30) and has also been arrested. The revelations came as the police stepped up their probe into the alleged gang-rape of the minor inside the 142-acre Aastha Kunj Park near Kalkaji Temple. The class 7 girl was visiting the park with a 17-year-old male friend on her 17th birthday when the crime took place at around 7.15pm-7.30pm. The investigations, the police said, also revealed that the accused were roaming in the park for nearly 45 minutes, looking for a target when they saw the minors sitting in a secluded spot.
Besides, they washed their clothes after committing the crime,” a police officer privy to the probe details said. Police also said Asif had switched off his mobile phone the moment he learnt from local residents that police were searching for him. He switched off his phone and went home to take his bike,” a second officer said. “The accused later attempted to escape from Tughlakabad to somewhere else but was caught near Amar Colony on Tuesday morning,” the officer added. Asif was held after a brief exchange of gunfire, the police said. We are checking all the videos,” the second officer said. Police said they are also checking the “past conduct” of all the accused. Hemant was also preparing for judiciary exams and claimed to be a graduate from Maharshi Dayanand University in Haryana,” the second officer said. Police said they will also contact Mukesh’s college authorities in Palwal to check his conduct. Mukesh said he travels from Sri Niwaspuri to Palwal to attend college,” the second officer said.
