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Revision as of 04:46, 27 December 2012 editAdnan.jsr (talk | contribs)356 edits →Alleged perpetrators: Removed wrong link and edited sentence for grammar← Previous edit Revision as of 04:54, 27 December 2012 edit undo117.219.9.151 (talk) →Public protests: injury is disputedNext edit →
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The ], which reports directly to the ] of Delhi has been blamed by many protestors and media to have used excessive force against the protestors prompting nation-wide outrage. It was reported that 375 ] were used at ] and other parts of Lutyens' Delhi to disperse the crowds <ref>http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Delhi-cops-go-shopping-for-nasty-itchy-tear-gas/Article1-980385.aspx</ref> The ], which reports directly to the ] of Delhi has been blamed by many protestors and media to have used excessive force against the protestors prompting nation-wide outrage. It was reported that 375 ] were used at ] and other parts of Lutyens' Delhi to disperse the crowds <ref>http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Delhi-cops-go-shopping-for-nasty-itchy-tear-gas/Article1-980385.aspx</ref>


During a public protest, a policeman named Subhash Tomar was injured and died <ref name="BBC policeman">{{cite web|author=Biswas, Soutik |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20840797 |title=Policeman killed- BBC Report |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=18 December 2012 |accessdate=2012-12-26}}</ref><ref name="HT cop dies">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Slain-cop-s-family-blame-it-on-heartless-protesters/Article1-980444.aspx |title=HT article on cop death |publisher=Hindustantimes.com |date=25 December 2012 |author=Singh, Karn Pratap |accessdate=2012-12-26}}</ref> in hospital. 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.<ref>http://ibnlive.in.com/news/delhi-gangrape-protests-doctor-says-constable-subhash-tomar-had-a-cardiac-arrest-but-no-major-injuries/312368-3-244.html</ref><ref>http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_post-mortem-report-subhash-tomar-s-ribs-were-fractured-injuries-lead-to-heart-attack_1781970</ref> During a public protest, a policeman named Subhash Tomar was allegedly injured and died <ref name="BBC policeman">{{cite web|author=Biswas, Soutik |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20840797 |title=Policeman killed- BBC Report |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=18 December 2012 |accessdate=2012-12-26}}</ref><ref name="HT cop dies">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Slain-cop-s-family-blame-it-on-heartless-protesters/Article1-980444.aspx |title=HT article on cop death |publisher=Hindustantimes.com |date=25 December 2012 |author=Singh, Karn Pratap |accessdate=2012-12-26}}</ref> in hospital. 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.<ref>http://ibnlive.in.com/news/delhi-gangrape-protests-doctor-says-constable-subhash-tomar-had-a-cardiac-arrest-but-no-major-injuries/312368-3-244.html</ref><ref>http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_post-mortem-report-subhash-tomar-s-ribs-were-fractured-injuries-lead-to-heart-attack_1781970</ref>


In Manipur, a journalist was killed as police opened fire during a violent protest. {{sfn|BBC|2}} In Manipur, a journalist was killed as police opened fire during a violent protest. {{sfn|BBC|2}}

Revision as of 04:54, 27 December 2012

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A female physiotherapy student was gang raped in Delhi on 16 December 2012. The woman, whose name has not been disclosed, is referred to as Damini, Nirbhaya and Amanat by the Indian public and media. The victim, with a male companion, boarded a bus in South Delhi around 9:30 pm after watching a film. They were assaulted by a group of six males already aboard, who then raped the woman. The young woman was treated at Safdarjang Hospital and placed on mechanical ventilation. She has since had a segment of her small intestine removed, and may need organ transplantation. She was moved to Singapore for further care on 26 December, and remains intubated and in critical condition.

The incident has generated public protests and international coverage, being condemned by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, who called on the Government of India and the Government of Delhi “to do everything in their power to take up radical reforms, ensure justice and reach out with robust public services to make women’s lives more safe and secure”.

At the suggestion of Sheila Dikshit, Delhi Chief Minister, five fast track courts were approved to try the rape cases. The Parliament’s Standing Committee on Home Affairs meets on 27 December 2012 to discuss the issue, with summonses for Union Home Secretary R. K. Singh and Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar. On 21 December 2012, the government promised to file the charge sheet “quickly” and seek the maximum penalty of life imprisonment for the perpetrators.

The incident sparked widespread protests in Delhi and several cities around the country. The major concern has been the negligence of Delhi Police in protecting its female citizens. There have been two deaths in the ensuing violence – a police officer and a journalist.

Incident

The victims, a 23-year-old physiotherapy student and her male friend, were on their way home after watching a motion picture at a multiplex in Saket. They boarded a bus at about 9 pm. The woman became suspicious when the bus deviated from its normal route and its doors were locked. When she objected, a group of six men already on board allegedly taunted the couple, asking what they were doing alone at a late hour.

When the friend tried to intervene, he was gagged and knocked unconscious with an iron rod. The men then dragged the woman to the rear of the bus and raped her while the bus drove, hitting her with the rod several times. 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. Finally, the gang threw the two from the moving bus, and one of the perpetrators later cleaned the vehicle. Police from Sector 3 of R.K. Puram impounded it the next day.

The woman was found by a passerby on the road, partially clothed and unconscious, around 11 pm. The passerby phoned Delhi Police, who took the couple to Safdarjang Hospital, where the woman was given emergency treatment and placed on mechanical ventilation.

Victim

The female victim was a student from the Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh. Her male friend who was assaulted is 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 victim's damaged intestines were removed due to a risk of gangrene. She is being fed and receiving medications intravenously. On 21 December 2012, Delhi appointed a committee of physicians to ensure she received the best medical care. As of 25 December 2012, she remained intubated, on life support and in critical condition. Doctors have said internal bleeding has been controlled to an extent, but her increased bilirubin, suggesting hepatic dysfunction or hemolysis, remained a "serious cause of concern".

The female victim has been flown to Singapore for further medical care. This decision was made during a cabinet meeting which was chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Alleged perpetrators

Six men have been arrested in connection with the incident: Ram Singh, the bus driver, arrested in Rajasthan; Mukesh Singh, brother of the driver, arrested in Rajasthan; Vinay Sharma, an assistant gym instructor, arrested in Delhi; Pawan Gupta, a fruit seller, arrested in Delhi; Raju, a minor, was detained by police in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh; Akshay Thakur, a former student at the Tandwa school in Jharkhand who had gone to Delhi seeking work, was arrested in Aurangabad, Bihar.

Ram Singh had taken the bus out for a joy ride on Sunday evening. He was the first to be arrested, and presented before the Metropolitan Magistrate on 18 December 2012.

When in the Tihar Jail, Mukesh Singh was assaulted by other inmates, prompting authorities to separate him for his own protection. It was alleged that he had been forced to eat feces and drink urine, although jail officials have denied this occurred.

Prosecution

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, brother of the main accused Ram Singh, did not confess, but agreed to undergo identification testing by the male victim.

The accused all face charges under Indian Penal Code sections 365 (kidnapping or abducting), 376 (2)(g) (gang rape), 377 (unnatural offences), 394 (hurting in committing robbery) and 34 (common intention). Police are also considering laying the more serious charges of attempt to murder and destruction of evidence. The police promised to file the charge sheet within one week, following public outrage and demand for a speedy trial and prosecution.

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 vehicle theft 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. Five police constables of Connaught Place police station were suspended after Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh found people drinking publicly near the station where the constables were on duty. On 24 December 2012, two Assistant Commissioners of Police were suspended for failing to prevent the gang rape incident.

Public protests

Black dot used to replace profile images in protest on Facebook and WhatsApp.

Public protests took place in New Delhi on 21 December 2012 at India Gate and Raisina Hill, the latter the location of Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Indian parliament. Thousands of protesters clashed with police, overturned cars, and battled Rapid Action Force units. The government invoked Section 144, outlawing protest, and demonstrators were beaten with bamboo sticks, shot with water cannons and tear gas shells, and arrested.

Protests from JNU, Jamia, DU and other institutes also cited the case of Soni Sori to point out that the problem with female security in India is endemic. Thirteen protesters were injured by police.

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, former Army chief General Vijay Kumar Singh and Arvind Kejriwal clashed with Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar. Police said peaceful protests have 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. Protest has occurred online as well on the social networking sites Facebook and WhatsApp, with users replacing their profile images with a black dot symbol. It represents the shame of being part of a society that cannot protect its own women.

The Delhi Police, which reports directly to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi has been blamed by many protestors and media to have used excessive force against the protestors prompting nation-wide outrage. It was reported that 375 tear gas canisters were used at India Gate and other parts of Lutyens' Delhi to disperse the crowds

During a public protest, a policeman named Subhash Tomar was allegedly injured and died in hospital. 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.

In Manipur, a journalist was killed as police opened fire during a violent protest.

Government reaction to protests

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 the 24th, 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 former Chief Justice of India, J.S. Verma 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 through print & other media 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.”

On 26 December 2012, a one-person commission of inquiry, to be headed by former Delhi High Court judge Justice Usha Mehra, was also set upto identify lapses and fix responsibility in the incident. It will also suggest measures to make Delhi and NCR safer for women. The report to be submitted within three months, will be tabled in Parliament along with action taken by the government.

Appeal by Prime Minister

On 24 December 2012, in his first official reaction after the incident, the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appealed for calm, stressing that violent "protests serve no purpose". In a televised address, he assured that all possible efforts would be made to ensure the safety of women in India. The Prime Minister expressed sympathy, 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 apparently disingenuous sign-off of the prime minister. The hashtag #TheekHai became the top trending term on Twitter in India for that day.

Reactions

There have been widespread public protests and outrage. Many have demanded the death penalty for the accused, which is not currently permitted by the Indian Penal Code.

Political parties

The following day in the Indian parliament strict punishment was demanded for the perpetrators. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, stated: "The rapists should be hanged". Sonia Gandhi visited the Safdarjang Hospital and met doctors on duty in the anaesthesia and surgery departments for an update on the victim. Bahujan Samaj Party chief, Mayawati, said that proper investigation was mandated, and that "action should be so strict that no one should dare to act in such a manner again". Jaya Bachchan said that she was “terribly disturbed” over the incident, and felt “ashamed” sitting in the House, feeling “helpless” for “not being able to do anything”. Meira Kumar, speaker of Lok Sabha, told reporters a "new law should be brought in and must get passed to ensure the safety of women." She went on to say: "The laws at present are not enough, we need stricter laws."

Sheila Dikshit Chief Minister of Delhi admitted that she did not have the courage to meet the victim, and has described Delhi as a "rape capital" in interviews. At her suggestion, five fast track courts were established to process the current cases. She expressed that senior police officials should be made accountable for not taking enough measures to stop such heinous incidents.

Celebrities and notable people

Bollywood actors Salman Khan, Karan Johar, Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor, Juhi Chawla and Gul Panag came out in support of the victims.

Actor Kamal Hassan opposes death penalty for rape. He said "I cannot agree with the decision on capital punishment. How can we justify one crime by committing another"

Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Harbhajan Singh, Aakash Chopra, Manoj Tiwary and Sanjay Manjrekar expressed disappointment over the incident. Yuvraj Singh also dedicated his Man-of-the-Match award against England to the rape victim.

Businessman Anand Mahindra asked for the social media "to sustain relentless pressure for action". Sitting Supreme Court judge, Justice Gyan Sudha Misra, labelled the culprits as "cobras and beasts" and that the "trials in cases relating to crimes against women needs lots of reforms".

Author Chetan Bhagat and civil society activist turned politician Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi also voiced their anger.

See also

References

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