16-year-old gang-raped inside sleeper bus in Greater Noida, had fled home after scolding over studies | India News - Hindustan Times

**Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh –** A 16‑year‑old girl was gang‑raped inside a moving sleeper bus that was traveling from Greater Noida to Delhi’s Kashmere Gate on a 47‑km stretch, according to police and multiple news outlets. The victim, who had reportedly fled her home after being reprimanded by her parents over her academic performance, boarded the bus in the early hours of the morning. During the journey, she was assaulted by a group of unidentified men; the attack was discovered only after the bus reached its destination, when the girl was found unconscious and was immediately taken to a nearby hospital.

The Uttar Pradesh police filed an FIR under sections of the Indian Penal Code covering rape, gang‑rape and criminal conspiracy. Within hours, the driver and the conductor of the sleeper bus were arrested on suspicion of facilitating the crime, and the police have launched a probe to identify the assailants. Forensic teams collected DNA samples from the bus and the victim’s clothing, while the girl’s parents have filed a formal complaint and are receiving counselling and medical care through a government‑run women’s welfare scheme.

The case has reignited public outcry over safety on public transport, especially for women and minors. Rights groups and opposition parties have demanded stricter enforcement of existing safety protocols, increased surveillance on inter‑city buses, and faster judicial processing of sexual‑offence cases. The incident comes amid a series of high‑profile sexual‑assault allegations in the National Capital Region, prompting the central and state governments to reiterate commitments to bolster the Women’s Helpline and to review the deployment of security personnel on long‑distance buses.