Hundreds protest in Delhi after teenager reports gang rape
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Delhi, India — Morning traffic and pedestrians on a Delhi street. File photo. NEW DELHI — September 23, 2026 Hundreds of students marched in New Delhi on Wednesday to demand greater safety for women and police action after a 17-year-old girl reported that she had been gang-raped by three men who allegedly posed as police officers. The teenager reported the assault earlier this week at a park in the Indian capital. Police shot and arrested one suspect on Tuesday, while two other suspects, who are brothers, were being questioned, senior police officer Vijay Kumar told reporters. Most of the protesters were women, and several wore face masks as they marched near the reported crime scene. They carried placards and called for women to be able to travel and go out at night without fear. The incident occurred about 2 km (1.2 miles) from Lady Shri Ram College, a prominent women's college in Delhi. The college suspended classes on Tuesday after the suspect was shot near its campus, with an official saying students had been frightened by the incident. LSR Principal Kanika K Ahuja said classes were cancelled after the college learned about the incident, and said the safety, security and well-being of students were the institution's priority. The father of the two brothers questioned in connection with the case was quoted by local media as saying that they had been framed. Police had not immediately established how the arrested suspect had responded to the allegations. Sexual violence remains a major issue in India. National Crime Records Bureau data cited in the source shows that more than 80 rapes are reported to police across the country each day, while activists say many other assaults are never reported because victims can face blame and social stigma. The case has also revived memories of the 2012 gang rape and murder of a student in Delhi, which led to large protests across India. Those protests were followed by legal changes that included tougher penalties for convicted offenders and the creation of fast-track courts for some cases. Despite those reforms, sexual violence remains a persistent problem, with analysts pointing to factors including social attitudes, limited police resources and delays in the judicial system. The investigation into the latest case was continuing as protesters called for stronger protection for women. |
