India mourns the death of Delhi gangrape victim

By Team FI

India is mourning the death of the 23-year-old woman who was brutally gan-graped and assaulted with an iron rod by six men aboard a moving bus in the national capital.

The young paramedical student died of her injuries at Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital at 2.15 am on Saturday. The victim had been flown to Singapore in a critical condition by the government on Thursday for treatment.

The brutal rape and assault that took place on December 16,2012, triggered massive nationwide protests and almost paralysed parts of New Delhi a few days ago. Large number of students, mostly women, took out protest marches braving water cannons and lathis. As the news of the girl’s death spread today, a worried Delhi administration, eager to ensure that anti-rape protesters did not catch them by surprise, stepped up security and blocked public access to sensitive areas of the national capital.

According to the Mount Elizabeth hospital hospital, despite all efforts by a team of eight specialists to keep her alive and stable, her condition continued to deteriorate and she suffered from severe organ failure following serious injuries to her body and brain.

“She was courageous in fighting for her life for so long against the odds but the trauma to her body was too severe for her to overcome,” Dr Kelvin Loh, CEO of the hospital said.

Meanwhile, women’s organisations have called for a silent march in memory of the young victim across the country. In Delhi, mourners will start at 1.30 pm and walk from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar. A silent protest will take place at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Saturday at 2 pm. In Bangalore, a night vigil will be held. Mourners will walk from Ramakrishna Ashram in Basavanagudi to Jayanagar 4th Block starting at 6 pm to protest, remember and mourn rape victims/survivors. In Kochi, a protest march will be held from Kaloor to the high court at 6pm.

Many individuals and groups have called for candle light vigils demanding a violence-free world.

2 comments to “India mourns the death of Delhi gangrape victim”
  1. A very bad thing is the initial indifference of police and government.
    (Another girl committed suicide after she went to the police after being raped by several men).
    The police had ridiculed her and had “adviced” her to marry one of the rapists.

    It would be a good thing if, in future, every time that a rape – any rape – takes place, women of all castes and social status all over the country will go into the streets and obstruct there the traffic.
    I’m almost sure that the police will be powerless and will think before they will send away or treat indifferently such victims.
    Strange how police and government, who at first acted so slow, so shallow, indifferently, NOW (with these violent demonstrations) suddenly call out that the rapists will have capital punishment.
    Isn’t it the judge who has to decide about this?
    Police as well as government are acting more courageous than they really are now, don’t they?

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