Crime: Autorickshaw driver arrested for raping passenger in New Delhi

An autorickshaw driver has been arrested for allegedly raping a 23-year-old woman passenger, police said on Tuesday.

The incident was reported on the night of July 2, after which the accused was arrested from his home in east Delhi. The woman, who works as a labourer at a metro rail construction site, told police that she had boarded the autorickshaw from Sarai Kale Khan to go to Anand Vihar bus stand.

She was supposed to board a bus from Anand Vihar for her hometown in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahar, police said.

The woman said due to a stressful day, she immediately fell asleep as she boarded the auto. She said that the auto-rickshaw driver took a detour towards Ghazipur and parked the vehicle at a desolate stretch and raped her, police said.

She alleged that when she woke up, she found herself undressed. The driver threatened her of dire consequences if she reported the matter to anybody, they added.

He then dropped her at Anand Vihar, where she noted the number of the vehicle and informed the police.

Police have arrested the accused and seized his cell phone. They are checking whether he clicked any objectionable pictures of the woman.

The woman is being counselled.