Buddha Jayanti Park sizzles under sun, no rape ripples

NEW DELHI: From the look of it, nothing about the Buddha Jayanti Park suggests romance. The ground remains barren for most part, tree branches are devoid of green leaves and massive mounds of dug up earth and big rocks form the landscape of the enormous park. But step inside, and you’re bound to come across love-struck couples eager to catch up on some alone time.Clearly, the April 25 gang rape of a woman at the park hasn’t deterred them from visiting the place.
On Tuesday, police said four men raped the young woman at LNJP hospital, then again at the park, and finally killed her after taking her back to the hospital. The rape isn’t a one-off case. In 2003, two members of the President’s Bodyguards raped a 17-year-old Delhi University student at the park while two others kept watch.
“Several incidents of harassment have taken place over the past few months with people passing lewd comments at couples. Last week several boys were apprehended for doing so. But people continue to visit,” says a parking attendant. He adds that at least 4,000 people — mostly couples — frequent the park everyday.
Even as the mercury soared to over 40 degrees on Wednesday afternoon, the park was dotted with couples cozying up. Some sprawled on the grass as they listened to songs on their mobile phones, others sought shade under a tree or behind the arid bushes.
“This place is quiet and there is nobody to stop us from spending time with each other. I didn’t know about the rape but I won’t stop coming here because of it. There are few places where I can be alone with my fiancé. Besides, in Delhi, one can get raped anywhere,” says Ashima, who a regular at the park.
Four cops man the park and they say there isn’t any cause for worry. In fact, they refuse to believe that a woman could be raped there. “We walk around the park, otherwise we are stationed at the booth. If somebody calls 100, cops will reach the spot within five minutes. I am not aware of any rape having occurred here and don’t think it’s possible. We didn’t receive any complaint,” says a constable
at the park.
The desolate park, however, suggests otherwise. Most visitors seem unaware of their surroundings and cops, too, take few rounds. The sheer size of the park suggests it’s quite possible, simple even, to evade the eyes of cops and voyeurs. Empty condom wrappers scattered on the ground and newspapers spread sporadically testify to the oblivion. Cops admit that they cannot monitor the entire park and can only react when somebody complains.