NEW DELHI: Voicing concern over "alarming" increase in rape cases in the national capital, the Delhi high court on Thursday asked the Centre and the city police to find out the "root cause" of such incidents.

"It is surprising as to what is happening in Delhi. Find out the root cause of such incidents," a bench headed by chief Justice D Murugesan said.

"There is something wrong somewhere with Delhi. People have become mad. Other aspects we can understand," the bench said after Delhi Police stated that mere policing will not stop such kind of incidents.

The court also asked the ministry of home affairs (MHA) and the Delhi Police to look into the sudden rise in rape incidents and find out their root cause to curb the menace.

"Most of these accused belong to nearby states and there is a need to find out the ways to prevent these kind of occurrences," the bench said, referring to the recent rape of a five-year-old allegedly by her neighbours in east Delhi.

"Everybody is very sad as to what is happening in Delhi. Look what has happened to a child of five years recently," the bench said, adding, "Now we will have to see as to how such crimes can be stopped."

The court also asked the Delhi Police to file a report on the training imparted to its officials.

The court's directions came after it was pointed out that some police officials acted in an insensitive manner during the investigation of the recent rape of a minor.

"Keeping in mind the alarming increase of such incidents in recent past here, police should also identify the areas of training to make its officials more sensitive," the bench said.

Meanwhile, the health department of Delhi government and city police filed a status report in the court, saying they have complied with the earlier directions by which the court had asked them to provide a list of hospitals where rape and accident victims can be taken for immediate treatment.

The court, which had earlier taken suo motu cognisance of the gangrape of 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus here on December 16 last year, was informed by MHA that it has provided 370 more PCR vans to Delhi Police which at present has a fleet of 500 PCR vans for patrolling purposes.

"Out of 370 PCR vans, 250 have already been given to Delhi Police and they are under the process of customisation and rest 122 would be delivered to them shortly," additional solicitor general Rajeeve Mehra said.

The ASG also said that certain actions have been taken by the MHA in pursuance of various recommendations given by Justice Usha Mehra Commission constituted to look into various issues relating to safety of women in Delhi.

The court, meanwhile, asked the MHA to file an affidavit detailing the departmental action taken against policemen who were manning the PCR van in the locality where the 23-year-old girl was raped in a moving bus.

The high court had on February 28 asked the city government and the police to ensure proper "publicity" to their orders that all hospitals, including private ones, cannot deny treatment to victims of criminal offences, especially rape and road accidents.

In pursuance of the HC order, Delhi government and the city police had issued separate directions that the victims of criminal offences have to be taken to a nearby government or private hospitals which cannot turn them away.

