'Big question on safety of women and children': Atishi writes to Delhi CM, police commissioner over 9-year-old girl's rape and murder; accused still at large

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and leader of opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Atishi, has written to Delhi police commissioner Sanjay Arora over the alleged rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl in the Dayalpur area of North East Delhi. She demanded swift action and sought a meeting with the commissioner, saying that a delegation of AAP MLAs and leaders wanted to discuss the case.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of murder and rape at the Dayalpur Police Station, according to DCP (North East Delhi) Ashish Mishra.Atishi criticised the police for failing to arrest the main accused even after three days, saying it raises “serious questions” about the nature and seriousness of the investigation. In a post on X, Atishi said the incident has left residents of Dayalpur in fear, with many parents not allowing their daughters to leave home. “Women are unsafe in the entire Delhi."In a separate letter to Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, Atishi also blamed the BJP for inaction, questioning why no one from the party had visited the victim’s family.

She condemned the state of women’s safety under the BJP's governance and urged immediate ex-gratia relief for the victim’s family. “The family had only one demand, that the perpetrators should be caught and given harshest possible punishment,” she said.“The chief minister herself is looking into the matter. She has spoken to the police officials. Naushad is still absconding. The police believe that they will catch him by this evening or tomorrow,” Delhi minister Kapil Mishra told ANI.