A solo trip in Uttarakhand turned into a nightmare for a Delhi woman who had to spend an entire night in the forest, hiding to escape an alleged rape attempt by her taxi driver.
The incident took place in Uttarakhand’s Kathgodam when a 22-year-old tourist coming from Delhi hired a cab in Nainital.
Senior Police Inspector Manjunath TC said the woman reached Haldwani by bus from Delhi via Dehradun on March 5, HT reported. I traveled from Haldwani to Kathgodam by auto rickshaw and hired a cab to Nainital around 11 pm.
Police said that at 1:30 am, the taxi driver diverted the car towards a deserted road in Patwa Dhangar near Lake City.
Investigating officials said that when the woman objected to this, the driver stopped the car and started abusing and assaulting her. He allegedly snatched her mobile phone and tried to rape her.
I spent a night in the forest and was spotted by the locals
In order to save herself, the woman immediately ran into the forest and hid there all night, injured and without a mobile phone. Then she somehow managed to reach Patwa Dhangar village on Friday morning and reached the police with the help of local residents.
A local woman spotted the tourist on the morning of March 6 and informed the police before she was taken to Talital police station. The police immediately collected evidence and sent the woman for a medical examination.
Police arrest a taxi driver
Based on the woman’s complaint, a case was registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections relating to punishment for rape, robbery and kidnapping.
The police were also able to identify the taxi through its registration number and track it through its GPS.
The 39-year-old taxi driver, identified as Deepak Singh Bora, was arrested in Bhowali near Pines on Saturday.
The victim’s stolen mobile phone was also found, and the police seized the accused’s car.
SSP Manjunath TC said the safety of tourists and general public is top priority in Nainital and strict legal action will be taken against those who commit such crimes.
