India police clash with protesters of gang rape

Protesters shield themselves as Indian police prepare to beat them with sticks during a violent demonstration near the India Gate against a gang rape and brutal beating of a 23-year-old student on a bus last week, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012. The attack last Sunday has sparked days of protests across the country. / AP Photo/Kevin Frayer

NEW DELHI Police in India's capital used tear gas and water cannons for a second day Sunday in a high-security zone to break up protests by thousands of people demonstrating against the gang rape and beating of a 23-year-old student on a bus.

Police chased angry protesters with batons as they fought pitched battles to try to get past steel barricades and a wall created by hundreds of policemen to reach the president's mansion to present their demands. "We want justice," they shouted.

Television footage showed that some protesters were injured in the clashes.

With cries of "Be ashamed," thousands flowed through central Delhi, during the fourth straight day of protests that have shaken the government and taken police aback, said CBS News' Sanjay Jha.

Indian newspapers called yesterday's protest and police action reminiscent of the anti-government protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square.

The demonstrations continued Sunday despite Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde promising to consider their main demand for death penalties for all six suspects who have been arrested by police following the Dec. 16 attack.

Shinde said Saturday night that the government was taking steps to better ensure the safety of women.

Official data show that rape cases in India have jumped almost 875 percent during the past 40 years, with convicted rapists rarely receiving severe punishment.

A group of protesters met Sonia Gandhi, the governing Congress party chief, and her son and lawmaker Rahul Gandhi, on Sunday and demanded a speedy trial of the suspects.

Popular yoga guru Babar Ramdev stood on the roof of a bus and pledged support to the protesters. "The government must set up fast-track courts to punish the offenders in rape attacks," he said.

The attack one week ago has sparked days of protests across the country. The victim is recovering from injuries in a New Delhi government hospital but is still in critical condition.

Activists from the All India Democratic Women's Association and Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) and others shout slogans as they take part in a protest march from the Presidential Palace to India Gate in New Delhi, India, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012.

/ AP Photo

After battling the protesters throughout the day on Saturday, authorities early on Sunday banned their entry into the high-security zone, which also houses the offices of the prime minister and defense, home and external affairs ministries. Police evicted dozens of protesters who had spent the night there.

However, as groups of protesters marched through the streets of New Delhi and began converging on the high-security area on Sunday, authorities withdrew the ban on the assembly of more than five people there. But it set up barricades to keep them away from the president's residence.

Protesters tried to break the police cordon repeatedly by hurling stones and water bottles and pressing against the steel barricades. Policemen responded by firing tear gas and using water cannons against them. The battle continued throughout the day.

[vidyasriGS]

This horrific event followed by the placid response from government officials illustrates the patriarchal value system that continues to thrive in India and is efficiently imported into the United States. With thousands of passengers flying into India everyday, airlines increasing their fares to India, and almost every Fortune 500 company actively engaged with India, we must take action as responsible citizens to this violation of human rights. This was not just a woman who was traumatized - This was a human being. Please sign the Petition to the Chief Minister of Delhi now.
Link to Petition:https://www.change.org/petitions/sheila-dikshit-sonia-gandhi-s-shinde-change-laws-punish-guilty-3

[john92021]

interesting that the police were keeping the mob out of the high-security areas. Is that where we are heading? The rich live in a high security area that the police protect from the wage slaves. Gated communities with gun towers.

[carolhill814]

Why should there have to be protests this is a crime and it should be delt with and that is a fact.

The fact of the matter it happens all the time and it is swept under the rug as though it is unimportant and sadly that is a fact.

Rape to me is NOT rape it is manslaughter because once you are raped be you male or female the person you were on second before the rape is dead and a new person emerges after the rape in so many different ways it can't be counted.

I know I have been there and I am still there so many years later.

[magnumdr]

Can we all say "morons". Meaning the police.

[askagain]

So violent protests are OK and the police should not keep order. Is it OK if protesters burn cars and buildings, too. Remove some cobwebs and use your brain for what it is intended.

[democracy8]

Nice to see men protesting against violence against women in that part of the world for a change, but they still have a long way to go.

[Truth_Guru]

"in that part of country" India is the only country in the whole planet earth that have elected a Woman as prime minister for more than 15 years....The Modern country of 'First world' USA is so BACKWARD they can never elect woman on that post.

India is the only country where 'Power', 'Intelligence' and 'Wealth' are owned not by Male God but by Female God (GODESSes are Durga Ji, Sarswati Ji and Laxmi Ji)

And please stop sticking to "Indian men degrade woman" theory that theory can be applied to any country men.

[technocoffee]

Oh really, truth Guru? India has "so much respect" for their woman that millions of baby girls are killed before or after birth because their birth means the family has to pay dowry to the greedy husband & his family. Sometimes after the marriage the girl is beaten or killed (usually burned to death) because the family wants even more. And when will a black person hold the leadership of India? Skin bleaching creams are used by millions since the dark skinned people are treated as inferiors & they are openly discriminated against.

[tvwatcher5345]

people should be protesting against the NRA this way in the US as well as the pro-israeli neocons that got us into the iraq war, i also wonder if nancy lanza is still a gun enthusiast

[askagain]

notjamesdean - LOL. Israel is an independent country recognized by countries around the world except some Middle Eastern adversaries. The Palestinians don't have the wherewithal to live as a modern, peaceful country.

[collie61]

I fully support the non violent protestors. Now, get rid of the prehistoric thinking government and ideas. Bring you country into the 21st. Century and adopt American values.

[hypnotoad72]

They had. Why else is India sometimes called "the world's largest democracy"?

As I indicated above, if India is a democracy, then most of the people want rapists to not be punished or they want rape to be tolerated, since it is these protestor that want justice being trampled on.

What are American values nowadays, anyhow? "More value for the dollar" and wiping out the working class, to make a new feudalism?

[notparicular]

Delhi is the rape capital of India. It is also the (other) crime capital of India. All US citizens visiting Delhi should be aware of this. Punishment. Most goons have political backing (because that is how political agenda is carried out in India). If the goons have political backing, forget about punishment.

[democracy8]

raymailhot: Most insurance plans cover Viagra, which only has ONE purpose while "Birth control pills" have many uses, not at ALL related to "birth control" or sex. Please get a clue.

[nonpolitico]

Read the original report.
A gang of men, on a public bus, raped and beat a young lady.
The perpetrators were reported as being "offended" at her "behaviour"....perhaps there are Islamists behind this!
Obviously, some men in the region SUPPORT the rape and beating.
Obviously, with Pakistan just "next door", which is NOT a Secular State like India, moral support may cross the borders.
However lots of real men (who do not agree with young women being treated like this) have demonstrated and want the Indian Government to bring in severe sentences for this horrible crime which had flashed around the world in minutes.
Coming as it does after the other story of Muslima sooting a 14 yr old because she wanted to be educated points to the fact that the region has problems.
However, as India IS a secular country, and as these men have probably embarrassed the HECK out of Indian Government, we will probably see a very harsh sentence laid on the perpetrators.
After all international business, which India needs, could well avoid investing in India following stories like this!
It is true that "tradition" in that area of the world has a long way to go to catch up with western civilization!

[lillyhorton]

The Indian police need to recreat that spund weapon that US police use. A while back a Yogoslavian man made a comment on how 4 US people die over seas and we get bent out of shape. One woman gets raped and the whole city turns inside out. I live in the wrong country. Women get raped frequently in the US and nothing is done. Crimes against women in the US is common.

[hypnotoad72]

Yeah, but how many rapists are not given lax treatment here? To quoteth the article,

"Official data show that rape cases in India have jumped almost 875 percent during the past 40 years, with convicted rapists rarely receiving severe punishment."

Our country seems to provide severe punishment. Unless I missed out on some piece of information...

Still, if that's true then punishment isn't a deterrent. So, what next?

[antoniof123]

This is not going to be easy for the government these 6 if guilty are animals and the people have to figure it out for themselves.