The Bihar-registered private bus, in which a 30-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped by two men on Tuesday, had tinted windows, heavy curtains and no location tracking device, in violation of rules and guidelines, police said on Thursday. HT found that the bus took an 8-km route in outer Delhi that crossed at least two police booths.
In 2012, the Supreme Court banned the use of black films or any other material (such as curtains or nets) on safety glass, window screens and side windows of all vehicles. In 2016, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a notification mandating vehicle location tracking devices and emergency buttons in all public service vehicles. These two features were absent on the bus.
The woman, a resident of Pitampura, entered the bus around 12.15 am at Saraswati Vihar bus stand, which is about 700 meters from the integrated police booth of Rani Bagh police station, police said. While moving on the Outer Ring Road, the bus passed near the Raj Park police booth and reached Biragarhi Junction, where there is another police booth.
When H.T. traveled Along the alleged route taken by the bus – according to the police – five police officers were present at the intersection.
From the intersection, the bus allegedly took the Delhi-Rohtak route towards Nangloi railway station and eventually stopped nearby, police said. The alleged road had several surveillance cameras.
“Thousands of vehicles ply this road and the officials on the road did not hear anyone screaming or calling for help,” a senior police officer said.
The accused, Umesh Kumar and Ramendra Kumar, had valid permits obtained by the company to operate interstate buses, police said.
