Nurse Gang Raped in Delhi Five Star Hotel on Independence Day

A 28-year-old nurse, who was attending to a patient at a five-star hotel in Delhi, was allegedly gang-raped on 15 August by two men, bringing more national shame over the safety of women, ironically on the day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for women's safety in his Independence Day speech in the Capital istelf.

The nurse, who works with a private hospital, used to visit a suite in the Oberoi Hotel located in central Delhi to attend to the hotel owner's 80-year-old wife since last two months. She has alleged that the two accused raped her inside the suite itself. According to the Times of India, the two men were attending to the octogenarian for several months.

The police has said that the duo took the woman to their room to rape her. "On Friday, the victim was on duty at the suite where the owner's wife has been staying for four years. The accused forcibly took her to their room and gangraped her," a senior officer told Hindustan Times.

The nurse was reportedly traumatised and did not report the crime on Friday, but confided in her husband on Monday after another attempt by the two men to rape her. Her husband then informed the police on Monday.

The accused, identified as Neeraj, 25, and Rajan, 23, have been arrested and are lodged in Tihar Jail. The nurse, who hails from Tibet, said the duo had sexually assaulted her before Friday's incident, but she had remained silent under threats to her life from the two.

The hotel management issued a press statement claiming that the two accused were not employees at the hotel.

"The incident is very unfortunate. The individuals in question are not hotel employees. We are fully cooperating with the police and local authorities with the investigation," the statement said.

The police said it would ask for CCTV footages from the hotel to corroborate the case, and will also record the statement of the hotel administration.

The incident that occured in a five-star hotel brings more shame about the safety of women in the country. The capital, in particular, has had a poor record in crimes against women, the most sensational being the 16 December gang-rape.

China Liberation Army intrudes 25 km deep in Ladakh

Chinese troops are reported to have entered 25 to 30 km deep into Indian territory in the Burtse area in Ladakh on Sunday and were still sitting on the ground on Monday with flags reading “This is Chinese territory, go back” in their hands. However, Army sources in New Delhi said no such incident had taken place but added that transgressions usually take place by Chinese troops due to differences between both countries in their respective perception of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

But news agency reports from Leh on Monday said a patrol of Indian troops noticed the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) personnel on Sunday while moving from their base towards the higher “new patrol base” post in Burtse area of North Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir. The area is at an altitude of 17,000 feet. These reports cited sources as having said that the troops, after walking barely 1.5 km from their base, spotted the Chinese personnel in Indian territory 25 to 30 km from the perceived Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Adhering to newly-drafted standard operating procedures, the Indian troops apparently returned back to their base but went on a patrol again to the “new patrol base” post in the early hours of Monday. However, the team found no change in the situation as it noticed the PLA personnel still sitting on the ground with flags reading “this is Chinese territory, go back” in their hands, the reports said, adding that a quick reaction team had also accompanied the Indian patrol but nothing could be achieved as the Chinese refused to budge from their position. Finally, the Indian troops reportedly returned to their base and informed their senior officers.

Sources in the paramilitary ITBP did not say where the said incident had taken place but added that transgressions do occur. The area where the incident took place is reportedly near the spot where Chinese troops had pitched their tents last year that had led to a tense three-week stand-off.

The Indian border patrol apparently attempted to reach the “new patrol base” from a place known as “Nallah one”, near its base. A satellite image of the area was likely to be taken to ascertain whether the Chinese PLA have pitched in tents like it did last year, the reports from Leh cited sources as saying, adding that there was a possibility of some tents being erected by the Chinese troops to facilitate their movement deep into the Indian territory.

The Burtse area, which is adjacent to Daulat Beg Oldie(DBO), forms part of the huge Depsang plains which India regards as its own territory. However, the Chinese side have been claiming it to be part of their territory as it gives them a tactical edge over the area.