By

Sanjay Jha /

CBS News/ December 24, 2012, 3:34 AM

Police in India clamp down on protests over gang rape

Indian demonstrators hold placards as they shout anti-government slogans during a protest calling for better safety for women following the rape of a student in New Delhi on December 24, 2012.

Indian demonstrators hold placards as they shout anti-government slogans during a protest calling for better safety for women following the rape of a student in New Delhi on December 24, 2012. / RAVEENDRAN/AFP/Getty Images

Even as Indian Prime Minster Manmohan Singh appealed for calm after violent weekend protests over the brutal gang rape of a 23-year-old woman in New Delhi, police in the nation's capital were enforcing a complete clampdown.

Prime Minister Singh urged calm and vowed to protect women as police struggled Monday to quell increasing outrage over sex crimes, following the gang-rape of a student on a bus on Dec. 16.

"There is genuine and justified anger and anguish at this ghastly incident," Singh said in a televised speech."

"We are constantly monitoring her medical condition. Let us all pray for her and her loved ones during this critical time" Singh added.

In light of the protests, the venue of the meeting between Singh and visiting Russian President Vladimar Putin was shifted to the prime minister's residence.

Usually, such meetings are held in Hyderabad House, which is close to India Gate, the scene of protests in the last two days.

The entire central square of India Gate circle and Raisina Hill was cordoned off and a heavy police presence was being maintained on all roads leading to India Gate and other areas of central New Delhi, in an effort to keep protestors away.

Media members have been asked to keep away from the area, to try to stop relentless coverage of the protests.

Earlier in the morning, a number of protesters who had stayed put at India Gate were cleared out. The young demonstrators, who spent a chilly night in the open after they fought a pitched battle with police throughout Sunday, were put on a bus by police.

The government also announced the establishment of a special committee made up of former judges to look into possible changes in the law to provide for quicker trials for suspects and enhanced punishment for those convicted of sexual assault of an extreme nature against women.

Meanwhile, the victim was put back on the ventilator as she battled for her life at a local hospital. Her condition remained critical, though she was conscious and communicating. Her platelet condition has dipped further -- an indication of infection.

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
17 Comments Add a Comment
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all4science says:
No wonder Indians are largely selfish people who cares just for themselves; they grow up in that kind of enviroment
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Alps2304 replies:
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Thousands of people are coming out to protest aganist this crime..Tens of thousands have come out to protest against corruption..and u say Indians are selfish people...You speak like a pakistani. If you are not then shame on you..what were u doing when a gunman killed 20 kids in a school and you guys still cant decide if gun law neds to be amended or not
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Ulgnud says:
Interesting photo. They protest using English on the signs in a country where the primary language is something else. I am not supportive of rape, but I am not supportive of staged-for-the-US-press photos either.
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KPeters_from_UK replies:
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The official language is indeed English. It is the language which all Indians communicate with each other. Education, businesses and government institutions use only English. Most Indians use a mixture of English and their own dialects. So the photo is not "staged-for-the-US-press".
john92021 replies:
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read your history, especially the part about British colony.
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tsigili says:
How about clamping down on the actual rapists?
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PourpaixPourpaix replies:
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Yeah, the police seem to have lots of time taking care of folks demanding the cops do their job.
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quincytodd says:
I see a lot of mindless Tea Partiers blogging in here to make dirty jokes out of this situation in India. How would these same idiots here feel if the same thing happened to one of their wives, mothers, sisters or daughters? Not too good, I expect!
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DoolittleAdvocate says:
No one said anything about government coddling their people. We're talking protection, and just punishment for those who harm others. Very different from coddling. India has long been a hell-on-earth type of place for women. Public demonstrations and embarrassment for whatever administration is in office will hopefully help bring progress.

As a potential tourist, you can be assured I will not spend my time or one penny of my money in this country as long as it treats women as property, or worse.
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judymar14 says:
Clamp down on punishment for those who commit violet acts against women and these protesters wouldn't be protesting. Give the same punishment to those who commit violent acts against men as against women.
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hypnotoad72 says:
They should clamp down on the rapist scumbags instead.

But a quick web search reveals that India is not a democracy, "the world's largest" or anything else. Most people do not care to be rape, or tolerate those who rape, so it's not the will of the people that the rapists are allowed to go free. Or if it is, then India is one sick little country.
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jnostromo says:
Yes wonderful india..a great place to raise a female child..it is such a wonderful place that american business just loves shipping jobs there.
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hypnotoad72 replies:
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At taxpayer expense (corporate welfare, tax cuts, tax breaks...)

http://www.ontheissues.org/SenateVote/Party_2005-63.htm

and free training:

http://hubpages.com/hub/HowH1BVisaFRAUDiskillingAmerica
(US workers training their own replacements; there are a large number of articles for people to be horrified by...)
hypnotoad72 replies:
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I apologize for my tangent; that issue has more to do with shameless greedy companies that even take our tax money to prop themselves up (holy non-free market)...

Back to the issue of the article, I definitely side with the protesters. Unlike my main response to the article above, I do not believe that the majority of people in India (or any country) truly condone rape in ANY way, shape, or form.
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notparicular says:
Rape is hardly punished in India. Delhi itself is the rape capital of India. Most of the goons have political connections- both ways; they often get away with their crime. US citizens should be careful about their own safety when they visit Delhi. No wonder ordinary citizens in India are fed up with their do-nothing government.
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hypnotoad72 replies:
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Well, as we constantly get told, who said government is supposed to coddle people from womb to the tomb? ;)
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