NEW DELHI: "I did my best. Anybody in my position would have probably
tried to save her. She was being assaulted in such a brutal manner. But I
could not save her. They were too many," was all that the 28-year-old
friend of the woman who was gang-raped could tell his father.
"I never imagined my son would dare to fight these brutes. I am proud
that he tried his level best to save the girl but the father in me is
scared. He too is badly injured," said an emotional father.
Speaking to The Times of India, the 55-year-old Gorakhpur-based advocate broke down as he recollected the past 48 hours. "Someone from Safdarjung Hospital called me up around 1 am on Monday morning from his cell. As it was an unidentified number calling up at an unearthly hour, my heart sank as I took the call. He told me that my son had met with an accident and that I should immediately come to Delhi."
The father immediately left for Delhi in his car. "I informed my relatives to rush to his help, drove all night and reached Delhi by 11am. I was shattered after seeing my son's condition.
When they told me about the incident and the harrowing tale of the
girl, I could not believe my ears. Were they human beings," he fumed.
His son's brave act has surprised his father, who said he was always a reserved child who usually kept to himself. Rajesh
completed his studies at a local school and went on to pursue his
B.Tech from a college in Meerut in 2007. He bagged a job with an IT
company and worked for a couple of years. At present, he was working
part-time for a Noida-based IT Company and was preparing for civil services.
NEW DELHI: Two days after a 23-year-old paramedical student was gang-raped and brutally assaulted in a moving bus, Delhi Policeon Tuesday claimed to have solved the case with the arrest of four people and said it will seek a fast-track trial for speedy punishment.
The condition of the victim continued to be critical but "better than yesterday's", doctors said.
Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar told a press conference that the driver of the chartered bus, which was not legally permitted to run on normal routes, his brother and two more people have been arrested, while a massive manhunthas been launched to nab the remaining two accused.
Ram Singh, the driver of the bus, his brother Mukesh, Vinay Sharma, an assistant gym instructor and Pawan Gupta, a fruit seller, were on a "joy ride" on Sunday night when they crossed Munirka bus stop where the paramedic student and her male friend were waiting for a bus to Dwarka.
"Ram Singh shouted that the bus was going to Dwarka and asked the couple to get into it. Once the bus started moving, they started misbehaving with the girl. Her male friend who, protested and tried to save the girl, was severely beaten up. The girl also tried hard to protect him," Kumar said.
But she was raped by Singh and other occupants of the vehicle which was being driven by Mukesh at the time of the incident. The duo were then brutally assaulted and dumped near Mahipalpur flyover, he said.
Kumar said Delhi Police will seek a fast-track trial for this case on a day-to-day basis so that the accused are punished as soon as possible.
To a question, he said the maximum punishment for this crime was life sentence, but as far as the demands for death sentence for such crimes are concerned the Delhi Police will send a proposal in this regard to the government.
The police is also likely to slap attempt to murder charge against the accused.
Kumar said the bus, which is primarily a school bus was being used for commercial purposes illegally by the driver.
Kumar said the girl was in a "serious condition" but that that there was some improvement.
Speaking in the same vain, Dr B D Athani, Medical Superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital, said: "Her condition is better than yesterday. Her conscious level is much better than yesterday's. She underwent a surgery on Sunday."
He told that the victim will be kept under "close observation" by doctors for the next 48 to 72 hours as the nature of injuries inflicted on her are as such.
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi paid a visit to the Safdurjung Hospital, where she met the 23-year-old victim late on Tuesday night. Earlier, she phoned and wrote to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Home Minister Sushil Shinde. She pushed for a strict punishment for the guilty. (Read full text of Sonia Gandhi's letters)
In Parliament, angry opposition leaders asked the government to explain what it's doing to protect women in an increasingly unsafe capital. Sushma Swaraj, BJP leader, said the death sentence must be introduced for rapists. Samajwadi Party MP and actor Jaya Bachchan broke down while discussing the case. (See special feature: Who said what)
Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said that he will ask for the case to be fast-tracked with daily court hearings. He said a special committee has been set up in his ministry to come up with guidelines to offer better protection for women. More policemen will patrol the roads at night, he said. (Read: Angry MPs ask govt for tough action, more security)
The victim of Sunday's gang-rape is in hospital in critical condition on a ventilator support system. Her male friend who tried to protect her on the bus but was beaten on the head with an iron rod has been discharged from hospital. (Read)
The National Human Rights Commission or NHRC has issued notices to the Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar and Home Secretary RK Singh in connection with the gang-rape. The commission said, "Such acts are grave violation of human rights. The incident has raised the issue of declining public confidence in the law and order machinery in the city, especially, in its capacity to ensure safety of women." The officials have been asked to submit a report to the commission in two weeks. (Read)
A man in Delhi approached the police today claiming that he was travelling on the same bus barely an hour before the gang-rape, and was robbed of Rs. 8000 by the men on board before being made to get off the vehicle near the IIT campus in South Delhi.
Infosys founder Narayana Murthy told NDTV today, "I heard about the gang-rape of a young girl in Delhi. I felt ashamed to be an Indian. In the capital of our country that such a thing could happen. I only hope that the authorities will ensure that such things will not repeat." Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has urged the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court to open five special fast-track courts for cases of rape and assault on women. (Read)
The four people arrested today include Ram Singh, the driver of the privately-operated bus and his brother. Ram Singh has refused to participate in an identification parade. (Read)
Two other men are missing; police teams are searching for them in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan, said Delhi's police commissioner Neeraj Kumar. (Read: How police cracked Delhi gang-rape case)
Police sources say that when the woman and her friend boarded the bus, the attackers began harassing her about being out at night with a man. Her friend intervened and they began beating him with a rod. She tried to protect him and the men on the bus decided she "should be punished," said a senior police source. (Read)
New Delhi: It has been over two days since a 23-year-old girl was gangraped, beaten and thrown of the bus. The police claim to have arrested four people. While the victim's health deteriorated on Tuesday night, shock and anger over the case and crime against women continued on the streets.
Speaking to CNN-IBN, activists and former police officers voiced out their anger over the case and gave suggestions like increasing police presence immediately, creating a citizen volunteer force and ensuring speedier justice in rape cases.
"Increase police presence overnight, which means from tomorrow re-allocate over 600 PCR vans at vulnerable points at night and those PCR vans must be supported by citizen bodies and civil defence and a woman policeman. We created this kind of a citizen volunteer force, why have those good practices gone," former IPS officer and activist Kiran Bedi said.
Activists called for increasing police presence immediately, creating a citizen volunteer force and ensuring speedier justice.
BJP leader Smriti Irani said if severe action is not taken, there will come a day when women will just shoot the rapists in the head without worrying about the law. "I said that today in Parliament that we are giving soundbites, we are giving speeches but the reality is that those who want to do crime against women are looming large in Delhi without fear of the law. If the most severe punishment is not given to such heinous criminals there will come a day in India when a mother like me will shoot these rapists in the head without a care for what the law has to say for it," Smriti Irani.
Actress Pooja Bedi demanded that the government ensures safety for all women across the country. She said, "What's the most shocking to me are the comments made in this debate. Somebody said why blame the politician. Hello! they govern us, that's why we blame them because it's ineffective governance that leads to these rising statistics. If the police are not doing their jobs, if the police have shoddy investigation of course it is for the government to pull them up It is for the governmnet to make the women of this country feel safe."
There were also protests with people gathering in huge numbers at several parts of Delhi. The students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University held protests and blocked the Ring Road during the day on Tuesday. There was also a candle-light vigil at India Gate on Tuesday evening. These protests are likely to continue for more days.
Meanwhile, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi visited the victim at Safdarjung hospital on Tuesday night. She also spoke to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and National Commission for Women Mamata Sharma, asking them to take all possible measures should be taken so that such incidents do not occur.
Referring to the incident, she said, "It is a shame for all of us who are responsible for the security of our cities that a young woman can be raped in a moving bus in the capital of the country and flung on the road, this crime needs urgent government attention."
Medical bulletin of the victim:
Amidst the arrests and the investigation by the police in the shocking case, the health of the victim has deteriorated again. While her condition got better on Tuesday morning, she was again put on ventilator in the evening, according to the medical update from the Safdarjung hospital.
The Safdarjung hospital has said that the condition of the victim has deteriorated. According to the hospital, while the condition of the victim got better on Tuesday morning, but had to be put on ventilator again in the evening.
The hospital further said, "This is a severe and a very unusual case which the hospital has never seen in terms of the injuries...she has received severe genital and intestinal injuries."
The hospital also did not rule out septicemia and gangrene, which is quite likely in cases like these.
sachinpawar_ADV Don't tell your daughters not to step outside the house at night, instead you should teach your sons better... #DelhiGangrape47 seconds ago reply retweet favorite
AVISViswanathan @priyankachopra "The best thermometer to the progress of a nation is its treatment of its women." - Swami Vivekananda #DelhiGangrapeabout 1 minute ago reply retweet favorite
AVISViswanathan @realpreityzinta "The best thermometer to the progress of a nation is its treatment of its women." - Swami Vivekananda #DelhiGangrape3 minutes ago reply retweet favorite
AVISViswanathan "The best thermometer to the progress of a nation is its treatment of its women." - Swami Vivekananda #DelhiGangrape#jayabachchan4 minutes ago reply retweet favorite
triptikarthik "@DKMahant: Let us request @barackobama to condemn the#DelhiGangrape Maybe THIS will make @pmoindia request the PM to 'act'"17 minutes ago reply retweet favorite
Rupalimk Hope this time some action happens not just the outrage! We need stricter laws, punishment and most imp fast trials. #DelhiGangrape19 minutes ago reply retweet favorite
Rohatgiswati Morbid humor,jz gt this joke 'D way things are gng in Delhi,soon d metro trains will announce,"agla station...molestation";) #DelhiGangrape22 minutes ago reply retweet favorite
AVISViswanathan How can you help #DelhiGangrape? Keep the heat. Keep raising questions. Ping people in government. Seek action. Let's move it!27 minutes ago reply retweet favorite
Rupalimk Praying for the 23 yr old girl who is battling for her life.#DelhiGangrape33 minutes ago reply retweet favorite
SrkDiya I am a girl.I have dreams,hopes,aspirations and i love the country in which i am born.Dont make me hate it. #DelhiGangrape #GirlsUnsafe35 minutes ago reply retweet favorite
ChintanDave10 The police should take stern steps against culprit... Women in Delhi are not at all safe!! #cruel #DelhiGangrape45 minutes ago reply retweet favorite
AkshaySharon #Parliament has made imp decisions on #DelhiGangrape it seems bt the way te implementation is goin to b does nt good so far46 minutes ago reply retweet favorite
SrkDiya How can the people,the government just sit and stare,WE need to stand up against this.Inhumanity at its peak.#DelhiGangrape #shame51 minutes ago reply retweet favorite
AVISViswanathan Jaya Bachchan breaking down is a sign of helplessness that we all share. Have we become 1.2 billion helpless Indians? #DelhiGangrape54 minutes ago reply retweet favorite
varsharanu #DelhiGangrape so now women are minorities? ok Fine atleast discuss us now in parliament but discus!57 minutes ago reply retweet favorite
varsharanu #DelhiGangrape so i want to know wat does #ram singh n mukesh n all oder victims' sisters n mothers think of dem now?59 minutes ago reply retweet favorite
adshh Fast-track courts should be set up to decide on every single rape case that is awaiting trial #DelhiGangrape59 minutes ago reply retweet favorite
varsharanu #DelhiGangrape punish dem publicily n telecast it so dat d thought of conductin dis crime fears every1 ..about 1 hour ago reply retweet favorite
varsharanu #DelhiGangrape a tv reporter was eve teased on d road whr d rape took place.. its caught on tape.. means #delhi will never change??about 1 hour ago reply retweet favorite
PragatiRatti Before I start the day, pray for the girl battling for life. Share the prayer, it may work. #DelhiGangrapeabout 1 hour ago reply retweet favorite
varsharanu #DelhiGangrape i pray for d victim n in tears i say its nt d winter tht has shivered us its the news of d cold blooded actsabout 1 hour ago reply retweet favorite
varsharanu #DelhiGangrape victim put bck on ventilator. docs said hvnt seen a case lik dis bfre. i shiver here in mumbai thinkin wats nextabout 1 hour ago reply retweet favorite
himan4u Please before you attempt to abuse or rape a women, just think 1 sec that the same thing could hapen to your Sistr or Wife #DelhiGangrapeabout 1 hour ago reply retweet favorite
gauravsinha_1 Good morning! Pray for the poor victim & curse the perpetrator! #DelhiGangrapeabout 1 hour ago reply retweet favorite
merenguen Recent reports that even pomeranians dont bark in the streets of delhi for the fear of being gangraped . #DelhiGangrapeabout 1 hour ago reply retweet favorite
JoyetaGoswami In March, a rape victim spoke to Tehelka about the nightmare that never ends. | tehelka.com/you-have-to-li… #DelhiGangrape" how are we this inhumanabout 1 hour ago reply retweet favorite
itzme_felix Terribly disturbed on the delhi incident.. Humanity is certainly heading towards its destruction.! #StopthisShame #DelhiGangrape2 hours ago reply retweet favorite
chandni28290 #DelhiGangrape Feeling so handcuffed right now! I wish I could do something to change her life.Something.wish I could do more than tweeting!2 hours ago reply retweet favorite
ChocoLoquacious Wikipedia entry on chemical castration calls it "cruel and unusual punishment". Funny. And unprovoked sexual assault isn't?#DelhiGangrape2 hours ago reply retweet favorite
MansingBhor This is not 1st time but it needs 2b last time. Women need 2b respected in a same way as our goddess & given pride of place.#DelhiGangrape3 hours ago reply retweet favorite
AVISViswanathan Before #DelhiGangrape loses 'newsworthiness' we must insist that Home and Law Ministry commit to action taken to protect our women. Urgent!3 hours ago reply retweet favorite
Shivagya #DelhiGangrape: Is this human nature,the accused should be hung till their deaths,anti rape laws should be as strict as they are in the gulf4 hours ago reply retweet favorite
veil_insanity Certainly,there is fine line difference between BEING HUMAN and HUMAN BEING ! #DelhiGangrape4 hours ago reply retweet favorite
SRamphaul ~ @NDTV, if the Indian Parliament & MP's are on the same page about harsh punishments, W*F is anyone waiting for? Hang them#DelhiGangrape5 hours ago reply retweet favorite
asadshan Just read about #DelhiGangrape, I strongly believe that people like this shall be locked up for life ... How the f do you get away with this5 hours ago reply retweet favorite
um_dubey Aajtak: Sonia wrote letter 2 HM SHRI ShindeJI on #DelhiGangrape- hope she didn't post it 2 his address- cldnt she tell him in parliament?5 hours ago reply retweet favorite
Venkat_Kotagiri #DelhiGangrape Fear of law is what expected to be inculcated in the citizens. There should be no way to get away from the crime5 hours ago reply retweet favorite
ChocoLoquacious So hard to see that madonna-wh**e judgements and male entitlement to judge at very root of this rape epidemic? #DelhiGangrape5 hours ago reply retweet favorite
kashikaj capital punishment, life imprisonment are not enough for rapists! v should simply CASTRATE dem. let them suffer all der lives #DelhiGangrape5 hours ago reply retweet favorite
Padmajajoshi1 Lo and behold! Finally, we will get to hear from our women and child development min today. Will visit hospital at 1pm #DelhiGangrape5 hours ago reply retweet favorite
Explanophaniac Why are you so against drinking, people ask me. Cause then I feel that I fall under the same bracket as these f****s. #DelhiGangrape5 hours ago reply retweet favorite
SRamphaul ~ I'm sorry @NDTV, sitting in ur news-room & discussing the#DelhiGangrape is awareness, but wake up & do something about this NOW!!!5 hours ago reply retweet favorite
gigglegirliez Prevention is better than cure; Prevention of heinous act like rape is better than delayed justice by law. #DelhiGangrape6 hours ago reply retweet favorite
bensonrayappa We have people who will arrest us for tweeting or putting up FB updates, but not the rapists. #DelhiGangrape6 hours ago reply retweet favorite
iCountU Bro shame Shame :-x ???? "@Atin09: Thats cheap guysyoutube.com/watch?v=GtVhbG… #DelhiGangrape"6 hours ago reply retweet favorite
rupa_jha Delhi police comissioner asks why media has named delhi as the rape capital...why u think mr commissioner?#DelhiGangrape6 hours ago reply retweet favorite
SelfBeTrue *India wins world cup* "Proud to be an Indian" #DelhiGangrapehappens, proud much? Bolo bhenchod! Beat them up, that's what they deserve.6 hours ago reply retweet favorite
kelzkhaleesi I'm pleased that everyone is standing together! Speaking with one voice to combat this disturbing ordeal frm occurring! #DelhiGangrape!6 hours ago reply retweet favorite
iatul_ I'm IN RT @Nazneen44: How about organizing mass protests? All across India on a same day? #DelhiGangrape #Justiceforwomen @JusticeForWomen6 hours ago reply retweet favorite
anubhav_anzzz A woman brought you in this world. So, you've no right to disrespect her. >:( #DelhiGangrape6 hours ago reply retweet favorite
s_walishah #DelhiGangrape such a Brutal incident that came under my knowledge. Disgusting.. typical Inhuman behavior.6 hours ago reply retweet favorite
s_walishah #DelhiGangrape now we see the effects of what media and mainstream movies show to us, and it we won't protest, It could be Karachi too.6 hours ago reply retweet favorite
Vinayakgaikwad Sonia demands strict action against guilty! Its just 1 case. There are over hundreds which go unnoticed! What about them?#DelhiGangrape6 hours ago reply retweet favorite
The Delhi Police have arrested some of the accused in the gangrape of 23-year-old paramedical student from Dehradun. Police teams scanned several buses and finally managed to trace the bus in which the crime was committed. During the investigation police also took the help of modern technology and finally caught the gangrape accused.
Firstly the police collected CCTV footage which showed a bus in which the girl was gangraped. The police found the CCTV footage from the outside of a hotel on NH 8. There was a black band and a school's name was written on front of the bus. After getting the clues the police spoke to several private bus transporters. Everyday nearly 40 private buses are parked in RK Puram Sector 3. One of the transporters identified the bus in the CCTV.
After the bus was traced, its driver was identified as Ram Singh. The accused had also looted the victim and her male friend's mobile phones. The girl had one mobile while her friend had two. The police started to send blank message on these three mobile numbers since Monday morning but the mobiles were switched off.
Police used modern technology to trace the private bus in which the crime was committed and the accused.
Finally, the message was delivered when one of the accused switched on the stolen mobile in the afternoon which helped the police locate the phone. The mobile was traced and the police team reached there and arrested one of the accused.
Delhi police arrested three accused - Ram Singh and two others. A total of four accused have been arrested till now while the search is on for two others. All the accused lived in the slums of RK Puram. Bus driver Ram Singh and his brother are the main accused. Mukesh was driving the bus when the girl was raped. The bus is owned by one Pradeev Yadav, who had given his bus to one of the schools on contract. The bus was covered with the curtains and bus crossed three police barricades while travelling for over 8 kilometres on Sunday night.
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