One Indian gang-rape suspect may be juvenile
Indian university students shout slogans during protest march in New Delhi on Dec 31, 2012. — Photo by AFP
NEW DELHI: A bone test is being conducted to confirm the age of a juvenile suspect in custody for the fatal assault and gang-rape of a young woman, while prosecutors will seek the death penalty for the other five men arrested with him, police said Tuesday.
The six will be formally charged in court on Thursday on accusations that they kidnapped, gang-raped and murdered the 23-year-old woman on a moving bus in New Delhi on Dec 16, police spokesman Rajan Bhagat told reporters.
Media reports say some 30 witnesses have been gathered, and the charges have been detailed in a document running into more than 1,000 pages.
Outraged Indians have been demanding the death penalty for the six men, holding demonstrations almost every day since the rape.
Murder is punishable by death and rape by life imprisonment. But juveniles — those below 18 years of age — cannot be prosecuted for murder.
Another police officer said a bone test is being conducted to determine if the youngest suspect in the case is indeed a juvenile. If the test determines he is 18 years or older he will be treated as a legal adult, said the officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to disclose sensitive information.
The brutality of this case has made Indians confront the reality that sexual violence is deeply entrenched in the society. Women face daily harassment, from catcalls on streets and groping in buses to rapes. Often police refuse to accept complaints by victims and even blame them for inviting unwanted male attention by dressing provocatively.
Families too dissuade victims from coming forward in the belief that it will ruin their reputations.
Activists hope that the savage assault on the young woman, a physiotherapy student, will shake off the taboo associated with sexual violence and make the authorities take such cases more seriously.
The young woman and a male companion were attacked when they got into an off-duty bus in southern New Delhi to go back home.
The six men, including the bus driver, took turns to rape her and beat her with an iron bar which they also inserted in her body causing severe injuries to her organs. The woman, who has not been identified, was airlifted to Singapore for emergency treatment but died on Saturday. She was cremated in New Delhi on Sunday, and the ashes were to be submerged in the holy river Ganges near her hometown in the northern Uttar Pradesh state in accordance with Hindu customs.
Protesters and politicians from across the spectrum called for a special session of Parliament to pass new laws to increase punishments for rapists — including possible chemical castration — and to set up fast-track courts to deal with rape cases within 90 days.
Thousands of Indians have lit candles, held prayer meetings and marched through various cities and towns to express their grief and demand stronger protection for women and the death penalty for rape, which is now punishable by a maximum of life imprisonment. The protests continued on Tuesday.
On Monday, the Indian army and navy canceled their New Year’s Eve celebrations, as did Sonia Gandhi, head of the ruling Congress party. Several hotels and clubs across the capital also did not hold their usual parties.
Yes very well said by Muzammil Khan that police has been doing good job and so the witnesses had the courage in helping out the police to produce charge sheet. This case will hopefully come to a justified end as lot of Indian supported it. We from Pakistan feel deep sorrow for the brave victim who tried fighting with her will power. RIP brave girl
His juvenile status (assuming he is indeed juvenile) didn’t prevent him from comitting this horrific crime. Please bump him off rather than letting off hook on technical grounds. Else the govt will be grooming a psychopath and letting him loose back into the society as an adult later.
Govt of India has promised to revisit the laws for juvenile crime also. In this particular case the juvenile has exhibited barbaric traits and was the most cruel of the 6-rapists. He needs to hanged by his neck.
If he was old enough to rape, then he is old enough to be hanged.
He wasn’t juvenile enough to commit this barbaric crime!!
Concern of pakistani newspapers and public gives us satisfaction that people of both sides have common problems and feels pain of other side also….
At least in India they have got witnesses and the witnesses are willing to give evidence in court . The police has made a fool proof case . How many Pakistani rapists have been convicted in Pakistan? Even in the most famous cases which are well publicised by the media these rapists go free because the courts dont convict them . We should learn a few things from the Indians how to convict the guilty . In other cases in Pakistan the culprits roam free.
We are lucky that in this particular case, because of media glare and public outrage, the police is doing its job. But in most other cases the police mostly tries to protect the criminals.
Government must set up a fast-track court to deal with this case by giving death sentence to all of them. juvenile or no juvenile, put them to death within the shortest possible period of time.
Once convicted these criminals should be given examplary punishment. We in Pakistan are also sad on this unfortunate and painful incident.
i understand dear that pakistani people with us in this pain and struggle ,even i wasnt celebrate new year , and did nt watch match too
This shows the positive attitude of Pakistanis
When some religions say to give an ‘examplary punishment’ to such acts, isn’t that considered Barbaric?
There are some religions which give “examplary punishment” for such acts but they are termed as barbaric. How ironic.
What this incident has brought out is the reality that is also the ugly truth and the face of Real India Shining. It has been like this since the people started to misinterpret our Religious Texts; for that matter any religious texts. All religions say that the harming the modesty of a woman is the worst possible crime and should be appropiately reimbursed. The report that monetary compensation has been decided for the family is a disgrace to human nature. I hope the people of the world stand united in this regard.
A rare scenario in India where all the six perpetrators of a crime are alive and under custody. Looking forward to right direction.
It is also fortunate that the accused are from a weak section of society. No uniformed forces, tycoons, gurus or politicians are involved. It is considerably less inconvenient to mete justice to those weaker than you.
It is True that rich and powerful get away with anything in India but this cannot not condone the crimes committed by the poor or weaker class.
Lets wish and hope on this new year that the day when Law and Justice will be applied to everyone equally all over the world will come sooner!