India rape victim's friend recalls brutal attack

Indians participate in a candlelight vigil protesting against a leader of the ruling Congress party on accusations he raped a woman in a village in the early hours of the morning in Gauhati, India, Jan. 4, 2013. / AP Photo

NEW DELHI The companion of a woman who was gang-raped aboard a bus in New Delhi recounted in a television interview for the first time Friday how the pair was attacked for 2 1/2 hours before being thrown on the side of the road, where passers-by ignored them and police debated jurisdiction issues before helping them.

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The Dec. 16 attack has outraged Indians and led to calls for tougher rape laws and reforms of a police culture that often blames rape victims and refuses to file charges against accused attackers. The nation's top law enforcement official said the country needs to crack down on crimes against women with "an iron hand."

The 23-year-old woman died over the weekend from massive internal injuries suffered during the attack. Authorities charged five men with her murder and rape and were holding a sixth suspect believed to be a juvenile. A hearing in the case is scheduled for Saturday.

The woman and her male friend had just finished watching the movie "Life of Pi" at an upscale mall and were looking for a ride home. An autorickshaw driver declined to take them so they boarded the private bus with the six assailants inside, the companion told the Indian TV network Zee TV.

Authorities have not named the man because of the sensitivity of the case. The TV station also declined to give his name, although it did show his face during the interview. The man has a broken leg and was sitting in a wheelchair during the interview.

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Remembering an Indian gang rape victim

After a while, the men on the bus starting harassing and attacking the pair, he said.

"I gave a tough fight to three of them. I punched them hard. But then two others hit me with an iron rod," he said. The woman tried to call the police using her mobile phone, but the men took it away from her, he said. They then took her to the rear seats of the bus and raped her.

"The attack was so brutal I can't even tell you ... even animals don't behave like that," he said.

Afterward, he overheard some of the attackers saying she was dead, he said.

The men then dumped their bleeding and naked bodies under an overpass. He waved to passers-by on bikes, in autorickshaws and in cars for help.

"They slowed down, looked at our naked bodies and left," he said. After about 20 minutes, three police vans arrived and the officers began arguing over who had jurisdiction over the crime as the man pleaded for clothes and an ambulance, he said.

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The man said he was given no medical care. Instead, he spent four days at the police station helping them investigate the crime. He said he visited his friend in the hospital, told her the attackers were arrested and promised to fight for her.

"She has awakened us all by her courage," he said. "People should move ahead in the struggle to prevent a similar crime happening again as a tribute to her."

On Friday, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said crimes against women and marginalized sections of society are increasing, and it is the government's responsibility to stop them.

"This needs to be curbed by an iron hand," he told a conference of state officials from across India that was called to discuss how to protect women.

He called for changes in the law and the way police investigate cases so justice can be swiftly delivered. Many rape cases are bogged down in India's overburdened and sluggish court system for years.

"We need a reappraisal of the entire system," he said.

In the wake of the rape, several petitioners appealed to the Supreme Court to take an active role in the issue of women's safety.

On Friday, the court dismissed a petition asking it to suspend Indian lawmakers accused of crimes against women, saying it doesn't have jurisdiction, according to the Press Trust of India. The Association for Democratic Reforms, an organization that tracks officials' criminal records, said six state lawmakers are facing rape prosecutions and two national parliamentarians are facing charges of crimes against women that fall short of rape.

However, the court did agree to look into the widespread creation of more fast-track courts for accused rapists across the country.

[HoustonWeHaveaProblem]

To the leadership of India - Do not ignore the the demands of your people for this is a commencement of a crusade to eradicate injustice against all those who cannot protect themselves and who count you to protect them. Make the necessary changes now or we will.

[vaishwords]

I suspect this ghastly incident will be a watershed moment in our history; this too shall not pass. We are witnessing the birth of a new global revolution: http://www.vaishwords.com/2012/12/the-new-social-revolution.html

[jnostromo]

not really..the world will not change as long as fanatical religious beliefs are allowed to rule

[GossamerWings]

CNN reported that rape happens a lot in India. This case pushed it over the edge. There are men and women on the street screaming for justice. I believe things will change there. I hope the good people of India can get the justice they want.

[Davisrad]

What was the bus driver doing during this attack? seems he could've done something to stop it.

[EXE60]

He was one of the rapists. He and his brother plus a few others were drunk and on a joyride. They lured the woman and her friend onto the bus.

[rohans84]

As an Indian, I do feel ashamed by this incident.

[cybervigilante]

What stinks is the most brutal of the thugs, who caused the internal injuries, is a so-called "juvenile" of seventeen and a half years. That half year has the corrupt police protecting him so he'll not be punished at all. He should be hung by his nuts.

[Filmguy870]

They need to die...slowly and painfully.

[taxed01]

yup!

[pitsirika96]

I'm half Indian and this is very RIDICULOUS! How in the world the bus driver is going to ignore such an atrocity? India needs to punish all of them. They need to enforce new law. Women we deserve equality and justice. India needs to change their laws.

[chemin123]

From what I understand the killers did this knowing they were going to be hanged - one of them said 'I'm guilty. Hang me' They know hanging is a split second death with no real pain. Give them to the mob, so that the mob will disembowl and cut them to death.

[GossamerWings]

"one of them said 'I'm guilty. Hang me" Cut his genitals and stick them down his throat, or introduce him to Bubba and call him "Princess" for life.

I know that is evil what I said but these people have pushed this over the edge.

[mollycruz]

If the punishment for rape was genital removal; I believe it would be a thing of the past.

[cybervigilante]

It would certainly obviate any Future crimes by the perps ;')

[Filmguy870]

Zero Recidivism!!

[mesopotamianmon]

This is effed up big time. Glad I don't live there.

[nematoda2]

Where do you live? In the US, things like this still happen. In 2009, there was a gang rape at a California high school, which was witnessed by as many as 20 people. Nobody called the police. Another gang rape was just reported by high school students by members of the Stuebenville High School football team. There were likely dozens and dozens of witnesses. Nobody called the police.

[differnet]

And what about last summer's rape in Stuebenville, Ohio. Where a bunch of teenagers knew a girl was being raped but instead of doing anything they watched, took pictures and posted them on the web. And because the rapist were football players, there seem to have been efforts to do nothing. We are not better than India. Don't kid yourself. All that evil needs to exist is for good men and women to do nothing.