Police further said the abuse escalated into sexual assault on May 9. When the victim travelled to her village in Himachal Pradesh, the accused allegedly followed her and continued the harassment.

The matter came to light after the victim’s father approached police with a complaint.

Police said the survivor underwent medical examination and received counselling. Based on her statement, medical findings and counselling reports, police registered a case under Sections 4 and 12 of the POCSO Act along with relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

A woman sub-inspector has been appointed as the investigating officer, while teams, including from the Women Police Station, are searching for the accused who is on the run.

First test for a new model

The case is being seen as the first major test of a model the Delhi Police hopes will transform how survivors of gender-based crimes engage with law enforcement.

Housed in a pink cabin within the Sabzi Mandi police station premises in North Delhi, the station is designed as a dedicated, women-friendly space. It is staffed primarily by trained women officers.

Spread across more than 15 rooms, the station includes dedicated spaces for counselling, child interaction, duty officers, CCTV surveillance and crime record management through the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS).

Spread across more than 15 rooms, the station includes dedicated spaces for counselling and child interaction. (Express Photo)

Officials said the objective is simple: create an environment where women and children feel safer reporting crimes and more comfortable sharing traumatic experiences. “The idea is to remove the hesitation and fear many women experience when approaching a conventional police station,” said a senior police official familiar with the project.

The station currently has a strength of 52 personnel, including 24 women and 28 men. The women’s contingent includes four inspectors and seven sub-inspectors trained to handle sensitive investigations, while male personnel perform supporting functions.

How is it different

Unlike conventional police stations that handle all kinds of crime within a geographical jurisdiction, the Women Police Station serves the entire North Delhi district for crimes involving women and children.

Cases relating to domestic violence, dowry harassment, stalking, molestation, sexual assault, rape and offences under the POCSO Act can be registered and investigated here.

However, officials clarified that victims are not required to travel to Sabzi Mandi to lodge complaints. They can still approach their nearest police station, from where cases can be transferred and investigated through the women’s station if required.

Delhi Police plans to replicate the model across all 15 police districts in the capital over the coming months.

The concept draws inspiration from dedicated women’s police stations already functioning in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, where gender-based crimes are investigated through specialised units.

For the Delhi Police, the pink-coloured station is more than a new building or a fresh coat of paint. Its success will be measured by whether women and children feel empowered to come forward and seek help.