India rape victim fights for life; new case emerges

Policemen stop protesters from approaching barricade on way to India Gate while protesting over gang-rape of young woman in moving bus in New Delhi, India, Dec. 27, 2012. / AP

Updated 4:45 a.m. EST

NEW DELHI The victim of a gang-rape in New Delhi fought for her life at a Singapore hospital Friday as officials in the Indian state of Punjab fired and suspended police officers accused of ignoring the rape of another woman, who then committed suicide.

Indian authorities have been accused of belittling rape victims and refusing to file cases against their attackers, further deterring victims -- already under societal pressure to keep the assaults quiet -- from reporting the crimes.

However, the gang-rape of the 23-year-old student on a moving bus in the capital two weeks ago has triggered widespread outrage and brought new focus on police and community attitudes toward women in India. Demonstrators in New Delhi have demanded stronger protections for women and stronger punishment for rapists.

• India gang rape victim flown to Singapore for treatment
• Police in India clamp down on protests over gang rape
• Brutal India gang rape triggers outrage

Authorities in Punjab took action Thursday when an 18-year-old woman killed herself by drinking poison a month after she told police she was gang-raped.

State authorities suspended one police officer and fired two others on accusations they delayed investigating and taking action in the case. The three accused in the rape were only arrested Thursday night, a month after the crime was reported.

"This is a very sensitive crime, I have taken it very seriously," said Paramjit Singh Gill, a top police officer in the city of Patiala.

The Press Trust of India reported that the woman was raped Nov. 13 and reported the attack to police Nov. 27. But police harassed the girl, asked her embarrassing questions and took no action against the accused, PTI reported, citing police sources.

Authorities in the eastern state of Chhattisgarh also suspended a police officer on accusations he refused to register a rape complaint from a woman who said she had been attacked by a driver.

Meanwhile, doctors in Singapore said the New Delhi gang-rape victim remained in extremely critical condition, had suffered a heart attack, a lung and abdominal infection and "significant" brain injury.

"The patient is currently struggling against the odds, and fighting for her life," said Mount Elizabeth Hospital chief executive Dr. Kelvin Loh.

Police have arrested six people in connection with the attack, which left the victim with severe internal injuries.

"We wish she recovers and comes back to us and that no time is lost in bringing the perpetrators of such a barbaric act to justice," said Sonia Gandhi, head of the ruling Congress Party.

Other politicians have come under fire for comments insulting the protesters and diminishing the crime.

On Friday, Abhijit Mukherjee, a national lawmaker and the son of India's president, apologized for calling the protesters "highly dented and painted" women, who go from discos to demonstrations.

"I tender my unconditional apology to all the people whose sentiments got hurt," he told NDTV news.

The Reuters news agency points out that, should the woman die, "It could trigger fresh outrage over the case, which caught Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government off-guard and triggered a blame game between politicians and the police."

[matt6052]

Now that the alleged victim is dead and six have been arrested for capital murder, why is the victim's name with held? CNN's presentation began with the fact that the victim's name is not being reported. "Her identity is a secret, but the Indian public has given her a name: Braveheart."

Not reporting the alleged victims in rape cases is something the USA media does frequently, but it is controversial legally because it violates the principle that the accused has a right to face his or her accuser in a public trial. In the subject case, the accused Indian men are now under arrest for the capital murder of a victim that hasn't been identified to the Indian public as anything less than a heroine.

As she is dead, identification of her will not discourage other victims of murder from coming forward.

[bobgraham65]

The men that did this should be sentenced to death ASAP. What kind of animals are these people and what makes someone think they can do this to someone?
And this is where America wants to send all our jobs.
It makes me sick.

[thermitefalseflagbuster]

Can anyone care to remind us the history of Bhopal and Union Carbide????????

[superdem1]

Every man who abuses women will need to live a life as a woman, to be abused by men, to learn what this crime truly means, how it feels, the horror of it, to burn it out of the psyche.

[DavidInMaine]

Pay attention America. If the Republicans gain any type of unchecked power this is what women in this country can look forward to.

[thermitefalseflagbuster]

I am nano thermite false flag buster of 9-11 falsflag by yanquis and khazars.

The united states has already drowned to the lowest economy - thanks to the false flag of the banksters, khazars, neocons.

This truth irks them truly as it is a GREAT TRUTH.

The 9-11 was the rape of truth and India was brought in to support the lie on pakistan and iraq so its oil can be stolen.

[IBBuckshot]

Dear Abhijit, Now bend over please and we will take turns shoving our organs into your body. Tell us when you are dented and painted enough.

[thermitefalseflagbuster]

@abhijit, you can see what real respect this yanqui has for the INDIAN and the SHINING INDIA.

The khazaria of the middle east also has the same respect and massage your ego and flatter you to get their way. their target is the pakistani nukes, and for that they fight by proxy as the two nuclear powers can fight to mutual destruction.

This is the reality of the SHINING INDIA.

I urge you to watch the videos by Dr Alan Sabrosky and Alex Jones on the PRIVATE Federal Reserve.

Most yanks and khazar media can swallow the truth and instantly censor these facts.

[RashmeeRoshanLall]

Abhijit Mukherjee is a minor politician who just happens to be the son of the Indian president but he symbolises the casual chauvinism that's accepted in India when he mocked the protestors as "highly dented and painted" women pretending to be students. That's an Indianism for saying you're a refurbished old car.

[ProfPaulNugent]

Duh! The bus driver is as guilty as the others!

[Adie_Eldin]

Abhijit Mukherjee, why blame the victims not the perpetrators? I am outraged and ashamed!

[MIO42]

There are No depths to which humans can sink
The meek shall inherit the earth
I wonder which SPECIES it will be ?
It sure wont be **** sapiens !