DNA Micro Edit: Highways connecting Delhi have become dens for criminals

Swanky highways and expressways have improved the Capital's connectivity in the last few years, but criminals have had a free run targeting commuters. Authorities have failed to rein in gangs operating on these highways. The fresh incident where a woman was gang-raped after being abducted from Gurugram and dumped in Greater Noida has once again exposed the gaps in security.

The fact that the three men travelled over 50 km driving for nearly eight hours but were not intercepted, shows the lack of police presence.

The lack of police presence on these highways has made them vulnerable to such heinous crimes.

Last month, a group of highway criminals attacked a family raping four women and killing a male relative on the Jewar- Bulanshahr off the swanky Yamuna Expressway connecting Delhi and Noida to Agra.

These highways connect Delhi to Western Uttar Pradesh and Haryana — both regions known to be notorious for highway criminal gangs.

This is not the first such incident on these highways. A series of heinous crimes have taken place but no lessons have been learnt. Many of these have deserted stretches and lack of police presence has given a free run to criminals. Commuters travelling at night end up being victims of highway robberies and cases of sexual assault against women are also not a first.

The government of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh need to show some urgency in securing these highways to make them safe for travel without any delay.