‘Girl raped on moving bus tried to escape, but dragged back’: Cops

The Delhi Police has requested the Forensic Science Laboratory to rapidly examine biological samples collected from a sleeper bus where a 17-year-old girl was allegedly gangraped in Greater Noida. These samples, which include hair strands, are anticipated to undergo DNA testing. The two suspects, identified as the bus driver and conductor, have also been medically examined.

The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the police commissioners of Delhi and Gautam Buddha Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, requesting a report within two weeks. The incident occurred on August 4, following the girl's travel from Mainpuri to her uncle's residence in Noida. She was unfamiliar with the area, making her journey potentially perilous.

Upon boarding the bus near her, she expressed her desire to reach Noida. However, when she discovered no other passengers, she attempted to exit the bus. The conductor allegedly barred her from leaving, and the bus continued its journey towards Delhi. During this time, the girl claimed that the driver and conductor took turns sexually assaulting her, threatening her with dire consequences if she resisted.

The bus eventually reached Delhi, where the girl was reportedly left unharmed. The accused were apprehended within four hours of the incident being reported. The bus was subsequently impounded for forensic examination. The police investigation has also highlighted several safety and regulatory issues concerning the bus. Reports indicated that the vehicle possessed 11 pending traffic challans, encompassing violations related to retroreflective tape, speed-limit devices, permits, and prescribed speed limits.

Among these, seven challans were issued in July alone. Moreover, the bus was equipped with a non-functional CCTV camera and thick curtains obscuring its windows, thereby impeding external visibility into the passenger area. The probe is assessing whether mandatory safety systems, such as GPS or vehicle-tracking mechanisms, along with panic buttons, were installed and operational at the time of the assault.

Furthermore, it is scrutinizing whether any alerts or location data were recorded during the journey.