Save Our Sisters
16,December,2012 Delhi:
A 23-year-old Physiotherapy student and her male friend, were on their way home after watching a movie in Saket in South Delhi.They boarded a bus that was being driven by joyriders at about 9.30 pm. The woman became suspicious when the bus deviated from its normal route and its doors were shut. When she objected, the group of six men already on board taunted the couple, asking what they were doing alone at a late hour.
16,December,2012 Delhi:
A 23-year-old Physiotherapy student and her male friend, were on their way home after watching a movie in Saket in South Delhi.They boarded a bus that was being driven by joyriders at about 9.30 pm. The woman became suspicious when the bus deviated from its normal route and its doors were shut. When she objected, the group of six men already on board taunted the couple, asking what they were doing alone at a late hour.
When the victim's friend tried to intervene, he was beaten, gagged and knocked unconscious with an iron rod. The men then dragged the woman to the rear of the bus beating her with the rod and raping her while the bus drove. Medical reports later suggested that the woman suffered serious injuries to her abdomen, intestines and genitals due to assault and penetration using a blunt object suspected to be the same rod. That rod was later described by police as being a rusted, L-shaped implement of the type used with a wheel jack. After the beatings and rape ended, the gang threw the two from the moving bus, and one of the perpetrators later cleaned the vehicle. Police impounded it the next day.
The woman and her companion were found by a passerby on the road, partially clothed and unconscious, around 11 pm. The passerby phoned Delhi Police, who took the couple to hospital, where the woman was given emergency treatment and placed on mechanical ventilation.
The Victim:
The female victim was from the Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh. Her male friend was 28 years old, from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, and lives in Ber Sarai, New Delhi.Pseudonyms have been used for the female victim, including Amanat, Nirbhaya (fearless one) and Damini (after the 1993 Hindi film Damini).
The Victim:
The female victim was from the Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh. Her male friend was 28 years old, from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, and lives in Ber Sarai, New Delhi.Pseudonyms have been used for the female victim, including Amanat, Nirbhaya (fearless one) and Damini (after the 1993 Hindi film Damini).
On 19 December 2012, the damaged intestines of the victim were respected due to risk of gangrene, and she received intravenous nutrition and medication.On 21 December 2012, Delhi appointed a committee of physicians to ensure she received the best medical care.By 25 December 2012, she remained intubated, on life support and in critical condition. Doctors stated that the internal bleeding had been controlled to an extent, but her increased bilirubin, suggesting hepatic dysfunction or hemolysis were a "serious cause of concern".She was then flown to Singapore for further care, a decision made during a cabinet meeting chaired by Manmohan Singh.On 28 December 2012, 11 AM (IST), her condition was "extremely critical" and the Chief Executive Officer of the Mount Elizabeth Hospital, where she was being treated, said that the woman suffered brain damage, pneumonia, abdominal infection, and that she was ."fighting for her life." Her condition continued to deteriorate, and she died at 4:45 AM on 29 December, Singapore Standard Time (2:15 AM, 28 December, IST; 8:45 PM, 28 December, UTC)
18,December,2012:
Six men arrested in connection with the incident: Ram Singh, the bus driver, and his brother, Mukesh Singh, were both arrested in Rajasthan; Vinay Sharma, an assistant gym instructor, was arrested in Delhi,as was Pawan Gupta, a fruit seller; Raju, a minor,who was detained by the police in Budaun, Uttar Pradesh; and Akshay Thakur, a man who had gone to Delhi seeking work, who was arrested in Aurangabad in Bihar.
Ram Singh was the first to be arrested, and presented before the Metropolitan Magistrate on 18 December 2012.
Mukesh Singh, who was placed in Tihar Jail after his arrest, was assaulted by other inmates and reportedly forced to consume human excreta and urine. Following the incident, jail authorities placed him in solitary confinement for his own protection.
21,December,2012:
The male victim testified in court on 19 December.The female victim recorded her statement with a sub-divisional magistrate at the Safdarjung Hospital on 21 December 2012, in the presence of the Deputy commissioner of police.
21,December,2012:
The male victim testified in court on 19 December.The female victim recorded her statement with a sub-divisional magistrate at the Safdarjung Hospital on 21 December 2012, in the presence of the Deputy commissioner of police.
Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta and Vinay Sharma confessed to the crime at the Saket court on 19 December 2012. The court remanded Pawan and Vinay to police custody for four days, while Mukesh was sent to judicial custody for fourteen days. Vinay Sharma confessed to beating the male victim, and has requested that he receive capital punishment. The third accused, Mukesh Singh, did not confess, but agreed to undergo identification testing by the male victim.[citation needed]
The juvenile is subject to a separate legal process. The five adults accused could face charges under the Indian Penal Code.
The police promised to file the charge sheet within one week, following public outrage and demand for a speedy trial and prosecution.
At the suggestion of Sheila Dikshit, Delhi Chief Minister, five fast-track courts were approved to try the rape cases. On 21 December 2012, the government promised to file the charge sheet “quickly” and seek the maximum penalty of life imprisonment for the perpetrators.
On 21 December 2012, the Delhi High Court reprimanded the Delhi police for being "evasive" in a probe status report providing details of officers on patrol duty in the area covered by the bus route. A further court hearing on this matter is scheduled for 9 January 2013.The following day, the Delhi Police initiated action against three Hauz Khas police station personnel for alleged inaction on an alleged robbery of the bus on which the gang rape and assault occurred. Just before the gang rape, the accused had robbed a carpenter, Ramadhar, after picking him up in their area.On 24 December 2012, two Assistant Commissioners of Police were suspended for failing to prevent the gang rape incident.
Public protests took place in New Delhi on 21 December 2012 at India Gate and Raisina Hill, the latter being the location of both the Parliament of India and Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the prime minister. Thousands of protesters clashed with police, overturned cars, and battled Rapid Action Force units.Demonstrators were beaten with bamboo sticks, shot withwater cannons and tear gas shells, and arrested.
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev and former Army chief General Vijay Kumar Singh were among demonstrators who clashed with Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar.Police claimed that peaceful protests had been "hijacked" by hooligans and political activists.
Similar protests have occurred throughout the country. More than 600 women belonging to various organisations demonstrated in Bangalore.Thousands of people silently marched in Kolkata.Protests have occurred online as well on the social networking sites Facebook and WhatsApp, with users replacing their profile images with a black dot symbol.Tens of thousands have signed an online petition protesting the incident.
The Delhi Police has been accused of using excessive force against the protestors, causing more outrage. The Hindustan Times reported that 375 tear gas canisterswere used at India Gate and elsewhere in Delhi to disperse the crowds.
During a public protest, a policeman named Subhash Tomar collapsed and later died in hospital.Two witnesses claim that Tomar collapsed without being hit by any protesters, while a third disputes that.Hospital doctors and the post-mortem gave contradictory reports: he died due to cardiac arrest, but it is not known if the heart attack was caused by injuries that he suffered on his chest and knee.Some experts state that his chest injuries may have been caused during administering CPR.
In Manipur, a journalist was killed as police opened fire during a violent protest.
22,December,2012:
Protesters believed the Indian government failed to act positively or give credible assurances to the protesters, and instead used police-force to stop the protests, resorting to lathi-charging, pushing the media out of the scene and shutting down metro rail stations.Seven metro rail stations in New Delhi were closed on 22 December 2012 to discourage protesters from gathering at Raisina Hill.On 24 December 2012, police blocked roads leading to India Gate and Raisina Hills to prevent possible mass protests. Nine metro stations were closed on that day, affecting thousands of transit patrons. News reporters were not allowed to reach India Gate and Raisina Hill.In addition to section 144, which disallows assembly of groups larger than five, curfew was imposed near the presidential residence.
22,December,2012:
Protesters believed the Indian government failed to act positively or give credible assurances to the protesters, and instead used police-force to stop the protests, resorting to lathi-charging, pushing the media out of the scene and shutting down metro rail stations.Seven metro rail stations in New Delhi were closed on 22 December 2012 to discourage protesters from gathering at Raisina Hill.On 24 December 2012, police blocked roads leading to India Gate and Raisina Hills to prevent possible mass protests. Nine metro stations were closed on that day, affecting thousands of transit patrons. News reporters were not allowed to reach India Gate and Raisina Hill.In addition to section 144, which disallows assembly of groups larger than five, curfew was imposed near the presidential residence.
On 22 December 2012, a judicial committee headed by J. S. Verma, a former Chief Justice of India, was appointed by the Central government to submit a report, within 30 days, to suggest amendments to criminal law to sternly deal with sexual assault cases. The committee has urged the public in general and particularly eminent jurists, legal professionals, NGOs, women’s groups and civil society to share "their views, knowledge and experience suggesting possible amendments in the criminal and other relevant laws to provide for quicker investigation, prosecution and trial, as also enhanced punishment for criminals accused of committing sexual assault of an extreme nature against women."
24,December,2012:
On 24 December 2012, in his first official reaction after the incident, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appealed for calm, stressing that "violence will serve no purpose". In a televised address, he assured that all possible efforts would be made to ensure the safety of women in India. Singh expressed empathy, saying "As a father of three daughters I feel as strongly about the incident as each one of you".
Controversy arose when, after delivering the written speech live on television, the Prime Minister was heard asking his staff theek hai? (is it all right?), while still on air. Social media flooded with satirical posts criticising the sign-off of the Prime Minister. The hashtag #TheekHai became the top trending term on Twitter in India for that day.
29,December,2012:FROM TIMES OF INDIA:
SINGAPORE: The 23-year-old girl, who put up a brave battle for life after she was gang-raped and brutally assaulted in a Delhi bus a fortnight ago that had created a nationwide outrage, died early on Saturday morning in a hospital here.
29,December,2012:FROM TIMES OF INDIA:
SINGAPORE: The 23-year-old girl, who put up a brave battle for life after she was gang-raped and brutally assaulted in a Delhi bus a fortnight ago that had created a nationwide outrage, died early on Saturday morning in a hospital here.
The girl, was admitted to the well-known multi-organ transplant facility Mount Elizabeth Hospital here on Thursday morning in an extremely critical condition, breathed her last at 4:45am (2:15am India time). She was earlier treated at the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.
"We are very sad to report that the patient passed away peacefully at 4.45am on 29 Dec 2012 (Singapore time)," the hospital's chief executive officer Dr Kelvin Loh said in a statement.
"Her family and officials from the High Commission of India were by her side. The Mount Elizabeth Hospital team of doctors, nurses and staff join her family in mourning her loss," the statement said.
The body has been moved to the mortuary in the Singapore General Hospital for completion of some formalities since she is a foreigner, sources said.
The family of the girl wants the body to be taken to India, Indian High Commissioner T C A Raghavan told reporters.
He said the girl, who was conscious, fought a brave battle till the end. She was brought to Singapore for being provided good medical treatment.
"The family is shattered by this development. At the same time, they realised that best possible medical attention was given. And in the end it was the scale of injuries that proved too much for the medical attention provided to her," the envoy said.
He said the final few hours was a trying time for the girl's family and they bore the entire process with a great deal of fortitude and courage.
Raghavan said the family has requested that their privacy be respected in their hour of grief.
The girl, accompanied by her parents, was was flown in an air ambulance in a critical condition on Wednesday night after her health had suffered a setback that morning in the Delhi hospital following a government decision over which experts were divided.
The six-hour journey itself was said to have been eventful with her blood pressure having dipped alarmingly.
The patient had remained in an extremely critical condition since admission to hospital in the morning of December 27 (Singapore time), the Mount Elizabeth hospital statement said.
"Despite all efforts by a team of eight specialists in Mount Elizabeth Hospital to keep her stable, her condition continued to deteriorate over these two days."
The hospital statement said "She had 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."
"We are humbled by the privilege of being tasked to care for her in her final struggle. We acknowledge the faith the Indian government and the patient's family have placed with us to ensure the best care possible was indeed provided to her at Mount Elizabeth Hospital," it said.
"We share their huge sadness at her passing and will work with the High Commission of India to provide the family support in this time of grief," said Dr Loh.
Late last night, the hospital said the condition of the rape victim had taken a "turn for the worse".
"As of 9pm (6:30pm IST), the patient's condition has taken a turn for the worse. Her vital signs are deteriorating with signs of severe organ failure," Loh had said in a statement.
"This is despite doctors fighting for her life including putting her on maximum artificial ventilation support, optimal antibiotic doses as well as stimulants which maximise her body's capability to fight infections," the CEO had said.
During her treatment in Safdarjung Hospital, the girl's condition had recorded several ups and downs. Three days after the attack, her gangrenous intestine was removed.
The bestial attack on the girl and her male friend in the bus had sparked off protests by students and women activists which took a violent turn in the capital last Saturday and Sunday.
Death for rapists was one of the demands of the protesters and the victim's demise could trigger fresh display of emotions on the streets.
One of the Delhi police constables Subhash Chand Tomar died in a government hospital on Tuesday and the post-mortem report had said that he had suffered a cardiac arrest from complications arising out of injuries on his chest and neck.
Shaken by the public outrage, government constituted a Commission of Inquiry into the incident and also set up a three-member Committee under former Supreme Court Chief Justice A S Anand to look into the possibility of rewriting the laws relating to aggravated sexual assault and enhancing penalty for it.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi had on Friday demanded speedy action against the perpetrators of the "barbarous" attack while Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government was committed to bringing the guilty to justice as soon as possible.
Reactions:
"Attitude towards women is extremely important. And I think that's in the family, how a child sees his mother or sisters treated. That is something that we have to change in an immediate sense because these things don't happen naturally as we have discovered. All things are taught, all things are seen," said Yasmeen Premji, the wife of Wipro founder Azim Premji and the author of Days of Gold and Sepia, a novel set in 19th-century Mumbai.
Large demonstrations have taken place in a number of cities demanding stricter laws and swift justice after a 23-year-old girl was gangraped and thrown out of a bus in Delhi. The Delhi gangrape has dominated news coverage and added pressure on a government which faced mass demonstrations against corruption.
Sudha Murthy and Rohini Nilekani, spouses of Infosys cofounders NR Narayana Murthy and Nandan Nilekani, were of the view that lack of respect towards women is the heart of the issue.
"Even when you abuse someone, it has a female reference - 'Son of ...', 'Sister of ...'. I feel women are referred to in abuses because we don't respect them," said Murthy, the author of at least eight books and the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. She lent the Rs 10,000 that formed the seed capital for Infosys and helped launch India's second-largest software company. "I feel the punishment should be harsh so that people get scared."
Yasmeen Premji, on the other hand, was of the opinion that swift justice, not harsh punishment, would be the key. "Rather than the quantum of punishment, I think it's the immediacy. Harsh, deterrent action - whatever it may be - but the immediacy is important."
Rohini Nilekani observed that some incidents have the power to galvanise society and the demonstrations triggered by the gangrape are also a symptom of the wider unhappiness with government.
"Young people are very frustrated. They feel the government is not doing its job well enough and the response of the government feels too little, too late."
Apart from action on this case, Rohini Nilekani said there is need for more dialogue to hammer out an effective solution to tackle crimes against women. "We need conversations with Indian men also on attitudes. And changing them and addressing even their fears and opinions. We need a more inclusive platform for solutions, because we are not going to get them overnight."
