Delhi park gangrape fuels demand for stronger safety audits and gender-focused reforms

On September 21, a 17-year-old student was gang-raped in Delhi’s Aastha Kunj park, sparking a rapid governmental response that includes a full safety audit of all municipal parks, increased night-time patrolling, and the proposal of a specialised women’s police unit. The case follows a series of high-profile sexual assaults in the capital this month, with thirteen reported rapes and several attacks on minors in other cities such as Bihar.

Data from the National Crime Records Bureau show a rise in child-rape survivors from 10,934 in 2015 to 43,675 in 2024, with teenagers comprising the majority. Critics point to entrenched patriarchal attitudes, inadequate education on consent, and political figures who have downplayed or mishandled incidents, exemplified by Bihar’s chief minister’s comments after a viral video of moral policing. The author argues that piecemeal measures are insufficient and calls for systemic change to protect women’s mobility and safety in public spaces.