US Woman Gangrape: Psychologists Helping Delhi Police in Probe

“I know there are other victims of these people,” the US woman said, as she made daily rounds of CP police station.

An anti-rape protest. Photo used for representational purpose. (Photo: The Quint)

Police are being assisted by a team of psychologists and psychiatrists in their investigation into the alleged gangrape of a US national in a five-star hotel earlier this year.

“We have taken the help of psychologists and psychiatrists in investigation so that they can help us tie up the loose ends,” said a senior police officer.

The team has also spoken to the woman to help her recall the details of the incident coherently, he added.

Earlier, she had said that she was not satisfied with the probe and was ready to come to India to identify the accused.

In December, the woman tried to file a report with the Delhi Police, but to no avail, her advocate Mrityunjay had claimed.

The woman has identified and named the five alleged rapists, including a tour guide and two hotel staffers. Speaking to NDTV, she said:

I had come on a guided tour, and I was straightaway taken to a five-star hotel in Connaught Place. I was drugged first two days and raped by two employees of the tour company and two of the hotel, who I recognise by face.

Delhi Police Delays Filing of Report

The lawyer claims that they had been visiting the Connaught Place police station almost daily, but police did not cooperate with them.

We helped police whenever they approached us, but no appropriate action has been taken against the five accused persons. They (the accused persons) are moving freely. Even we are not aware when the police will arrest them.

Advocate Mritunjay

While in Pennsylvania, she had registered a case through an NGO based in the US. She got in touch with an NGO and her complaint was forwarded to the Delhi Police by the American Embassy. However, it has been reported that the FIR was delayed by a month-and-a-half.

‘I Have No Memories of the Incident’

The shocked woman had returned to the US immediately after and did not speak about the incident with anyone for months. With the help of a friend and an NGO, she sent an email to the commissioner who sent it to the CP police station.

I have no memories of the incident. I do not remember writing a good feedback of the tour agency. I regained my memory three months later towards end of July and then decided to file an FIR. First reaction of the tour agency and hotel was that they were shocked. But they were not interested in finding out why it happened and who were responsible. They were only worried about their image.

Rape Survivor to NDTV

Also Read: US Woman Alleges Gangrape in Delhi, EAM Sushma Swaraj Takes Note

‘Coming to India was a Lifelong Dream’

The Delhi Police cited confusion with the communication from the US-based NGO as the reason for the delay in filing of the complaint, reports NDTV. The email by NGO – American Overseas Domestic Crisis Violence Centre – was sent to the women’s cell as a case of domestic violence.

When the women’s cell returned the complaint, police sought a statement and identification of the five persons from the woman through the NGO. Police have questioned 11 men, but no arrests have been made.

The woman claimed that the process has been frustrating and she does not feel confident with the ways of the Delhi Police officials as she claimed that there are other victims of these men.

I was very excited when I came to India. It was my lifelong dream. I still have love for India as a country. But this problem the country has with rape and violence is a serious issue

Rape Survivor

Also Read: Four Years After Nirbhaya, Rapes in Delhi Have Tripled

(With IANS and PTI inputs)