Delhi cab driver arrested for rape and murder of 10-year-old girl
In a case that has shocked the nation, a 28-year-old cab driver was arrested on Monday for the abduction, rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl in Delhi. The accused, identified as Bhashu Kumar Singh, allegedly kidnapped the child from a pavement near a Metro station around 4:15 am, committed the crime, and then dumped her body in the Aravali forests along the Gurgaon-Faridabad Road. He then returned to his rented accommodation in Gurgaon's Chakkarpur village.
According to police sources, Singh worked for two ride-hailing apps and had been unable to get any rides that early morning. He decided to head home around 8 am. Just as he reached home, he received a booking for a drop to Vikaspuri in West Delhi. He picked up the customer and headed to the location, where he was arrested by Delhi Police at 11 am.
During questioning, Singh claimed he was 'frustrated' by the lack of rides and, upon reaching the Mehrauli area, saw the girl sleeping and decided to abduct her. Police have not confirmed whether this claim is true.
Singh has been living in Delhi for ten years. He is married with two children, aged six months and four years, who live in Bihar. In Chakkarpur, he was staying with his two brothers.
The victim, the eldest of four siblings, lived with her parents on the streets of South Delhi. The family had moved from Bihar four months ago in search of work but were forced to sleep on the roadside due to lack of steady income. The night before the incident, the family had dinner and settled down on the cement floor in the Delhi heat. The father told police he woke at 4:15 am to his daughter's screams of 'Papa… save me'. He grabbed a stick, but the assailant had already placed the child in a vehicle and sped away. He chased the car but could not stop it.
Police traced the vehicle, a white Wagon R with a commercial plate, using CCTV footage and registration details. Singh was taken into custody by 11 am. While being escorted to the crime scene, he allegedly attempted to snatch a service revolver from an officer and fired at the police party. Police returned fire, injuring Singh in the leg. He was hospitalised, and a separate case for assault on a police officer has been registered.
The father, heartbroken, said, 'If I had woken up a few seconds earlier, maybe my daughter would be alive.' The case continues to be investigated.
