Delhi auto-rickshaw driver held for molesting woman, kidnapping her son

A 49-year-old auto driver has been arrested for allegedly trying to molest a woman passenger near Anand Vihar bus stand here, police said on Tuesday.

Delhi auto-rickshaw driver held for molesting woman, kidnapping her son
Source: IANS

New Delhi, June 27 (IANS) A 49-year-old auto driver has been arrested for allegedly trying to molest a woman passenger near Anand Vihar bus stand here, police said on Tuesday.

The accused identified as Chandeshwar Yadav had even kidnapped the woman’s four-year-old son and robbed her valuables.

The distressing incident unfolded on Monday when a woman and her child arrived at the Anand Vihar bus stand around 2 a.m. from Uttar Pradesh's Hardoi, said a police official.

However, their journey took a harrowing turn when they hired an auto-rickshaw to go to Delhi Cantonment.

Unfortunately, due to a miscommunication, the driver dropped them off at Sadar Bazar and refused to take them to their intended destination. Undeterred, the woman hired another auto-rickshaw from Sadar Bazar to continue their journey to Delhi Cantonment.

However, fatigued from the long trip, she fell asleep during the ride. It was during this time that the auto driver stopped the vehicle and attempted to molest her. Resisting his advances, the woman quickly disembarked from the auto-rickshaw.

Seizing the opportunity, the accused driver fled the scene with her child, bag, and mobile phone.

“The victim received medical examination, and a case was registered under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (Assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), and 363 (kidnapping) at Delhi Cantt police station," Deputy Commissioner of Police, Southwest, Manoj C.

The police meticulously analyzed footage from over 100 cameras installed along the routes covering approximately 30 km, taken by the auto-rickshaw driver involved in the incident.

“We managed to partially identify the registration number of the vehicle. Subsequently, raids were conducted, leading to the arrest of the accused auto driver from Dallupura village on the outskirts of the Trans-Yamuna region of Delhi,” said the official.

During interrogation, the accused revealed that he had left the child near India Gate. Fortunately, the child was found by the staff of Kartavya Path police station on Monday night and safely lodged in a child home.

The DCP confirmed that the kidnapped child was joyfully reunited with her mother. Furthermore, the stolen bag and mobile phone of the complainant were recovered from the accused.

--IANS
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