Dhaula Kuan gang rape: Five men held guilty

New Delhi: A Delhi court Tuesday convicted five men in an abduction and gang rape case in Dhaula Kuan that took place in 2010.

Additional Sessions Judge Virender Bhat convicted Shamshad alias Khutkan, Usman alias Kale, Shahid alias Chhota Billi, Iqbal alias Bada Billi and Kamruddin under charges of abduction and gang rape of a 30-year-old call centre executive in Dhaula Kuan area of south Delhi.

These five men have been found guilty of gang-raping a call centre worker in Delhi in 2010, a case that highlighted the urgent need for better conditions for women working the late shift at the many BPOs in and around the capital.

The woman, who was 30, was abducted when she was walking home with her colleague at night after her shift ended. For over 30 minutes, she was raped in a moving vehicle.

The convicts will be sentenced on Friday.

After gang-raping her, the men abandoned her on the road; she then phoned the friend who had been with her when she was abducted.

The woman and her friend had been dropped near the gate of the neighbourhood or colony where she lived. As they were walking towards the entrance, the men arrived.

Based on this case, call centres were asked to urgently adopt a slew of safety measures for women employees on the late shift. Cabs were ordered to drop women to their front door; a woman could not be alone in the office vehicle with the driver - an armed guard has to be present if she is going to be the last person to be dropped home.