Five Arrested for Alleged Gang Rape of Teenager at Dehradun Bus Terminal

Five men, including bus drivers and staff, were arrested in Dehradun for allegedly gang-raping a teenage girl at the Interstate Bus Terminal. The victim, initially claiming to be from Punjab, later revealed she was from Uttar Pradesh. The incident occurred on August 12 and was reported days later.

The Uttarakhand Police have arrested five men for allegedly gang-raping a teenage girl in a government bus at the Interstate Bus Terminal (ISBT) in Dehradun. The horrific incident, which occurred on August 12, came to light when the victim was found sitting alone late at night on a bench at the bus terminal.

Among those arrested were three bus drivers, a conductor, and a cashier. The accused have been identified as Dharmendra Kumar, Rajpal, Devendra, Rajesh Kumar Sonkar, and Ravi Kumar, hailing from various parts of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

The crime was discovered when the girl was taken to Bal Niketan, a government girls' home, where she revealed the assault during counseling. Subsequently, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed under section 70 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

According to police reports, the victim, who initially claimed to be an orphan from Punjab, later revealed she was from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. She had traveled to Delhi and then to Dehradun, where the assault took place.

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One of the accused, Devendra, reportedly met the girl at Delhi's Kashmiri Gate ISBT and suggested she take a bus to Dehradun. After reaching Dehradun and all passengers had disembarked, Devendra and driver Dharmendra allegedly raped her. Two other drivers and a cashier also participated in the assault after learning about the situation.

This shocking incident highlights the urgent need for enhanced security measures at public transportation hubs and stricter monitoring of staff behavior. It also underscores the vulnerability of young travelers and the importance of creating safe spaces for women and children.