Three held for attempt to rape

NEW DELHI - Three people were arrested for allegedly attempting to rape a woman and her niece in west Delhi Thursday, police said.

“Sanjeev, Monu and Sunil were held from Kanjhawala area in west Delhi. The victims, a 32-year-old woman and her 22-year-old niece, who stay at Sharda JJ Colony, have said that the incident took place Feb 21,” said a senior police officer.

According to police, the women left their home to catch a train from New Delhi railway station.

“The women boarded a Gramin Sewa auto, which was being driven by Sanjeev, and were on their way to a bus stop. But he took the women to his home where his friends were waiting for him,” the officer said.

The victims were forced inside the house by the trio, police said.

“However, the women were able to escape but decided to hush the matter up fearing social stigma. While the 22-year-old victim went to Uttar Pradesh as planned, her aunt just told her husband that some men had tried to molest her,” said the officer.

Police said they had initially registered a case of molestation but later converted it to attempt to rape after the niece came back and decided to pursue the matter, the official said.