Another bus gang rape reported in India

Indian policemen stand with six men, face covered in black sheet, suspected in a gang rape of a bus passenger in Punjab state, India, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013. / AP Photo

NEW DELHI Police said Sunday they have arrested six suspects in another gang rape of a bus passenger in India, four weeks after a brutal attack on a student on a moving bus in the capital outraged Indians and led to calls for tougher rape laws.

Police officer Raj Jeet Singh said a 29-year-old woman was the only passenger on a bus as she was traveling to her village in northern Punjab state on Friday night. The driver refused to stop at her village despite her repeated pleas and drove her to a desolate location, he said.

There, the driver and the conductor took her to a building where they were joined by five friends and took turns raping her throughout the night, Singh said.

The driver dropped the woman off at her village early Saturday, he said.

Singh said police arrested six suspects on Saturday and were searching for another.

Gurmej Singh, deputy superintendent of police, said all six admitted involvement in the rape. He said the victim was recovering at home.

Also on Saturday, police arrested a 32-year-old man for allegedly raping and killing a 9-year-old girl two weeks ago in Ahmednagar district in western India, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. Her decomposed body was found Friday.

Police officer Sunita Thakare said the suspect committed the crime seven months after his release from prison after serving nine years for raping and murdering a girl in 2003, PTI reported Sunday.

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Gang-rape sparks rage in India

The deadly rape of a 23-year-old student on a New Delhi bus in December led to the woman's death and set off an impassioned debate about what India needs to do to prevent such tragedies. Protesters and politicians have called for tougher rape laws, police reforms and a transformation in the way the country treats women.

"It's a very deep malaise. This aspect of gender justice hasn't been dealt with in our nation-building task," Seema Mustafa, a writer on social issues who heads the Center for Policy Analysis think tank, said Sunday.

"Police haven't dealt with the issue severely in the past. The message that goes out is that the punishment doesn't match the crime. Criminals think they can get away it," she said.

• India rape suspects beaten in prison, coerced into statements of guilt, lawyer claims
• India rape trial kicks off, behind closed doors
• India rape victim's friend recalls brutal attack

In her first published comments, the mother of the deceased student in the New Delhi attack said Sunday that all six suspects in that case, including one believed to be a juvenile, deserve to die.

She was quoted by The Times of India newspaper as saying that her daughter, who died from massive internal injuries two weeks after the attack, told her that the youngest suspect had participated in the most brutal aspects of the rape.

Five men have been charged with the physiotherapy student's rape and murder and face a possible death penalty if convicted. The sixth suspect, who says he is 17 years old, is likely to be tried in a juvenile court if medical tests confirm he is a minor. His maximum sentence would be three years in a reform facility.

"Now the only thing that will satisfy us is to see them punished. For what they did to her, they deserve to die," the newspaper quoted the mother as saying.

Some activists have demanded a change in Indian laws so that juveniles committing heinous crimes can face the death penalty.

The names of the victim of the Dec. 16 attack and her family have not been released.

[maria_i14]

Dear Editor,
Rape is a very serious crime and the punishment for an adult is a lot of time in prison or the death penalty. In this case, since one of the accused is only 17 years old, some people think the punishment should not be death, but a long time in a reform facility. Yet, others think that the death penalty should include the minor. I believe that the death penalty should not be applied to the minor. Yes, the crime was horrific, but the minor should be allowed to go to a reform facility to get help. Maybe if the minor received some help he wouldn't be a problem to society. I understand that some people might question if the minor will rape again, but we will never know. People need to give the accused a second chance so that he can have a chance to make his life better. The death penalty, to me, is not a harsh punishment. The accused just dies without thinking about what he did. If the 17 year old went to a reform facility, then he would think about what he did and then that would make him feel terrible. The 17 year old would just be beating himself up over what he did and that is a good punishment. We punish ourselves the hardest, not someone else.

[cleric77]

I wonder what role their major two theologies--Muslim or Hindi play in their view of females and their acts of rape--a show of control and power over females?

[Allusernamearetaken]

Here we go again! Do the guys look really Muslims to you...I know it is confusing to distinguish between all the different culture and religious dresses and turbans. But these guys have are wearing the Siikh turban that men wear on the head. If they were Muslims, you think the medias would have missed to associate it with Islam...job would have been done swift.

[judymar14]

In some mid-east countries those who steal get hands cut off. India should follow suit - so should all countries - cut off the appendage the crime fits. Cuttting it off then hanging the member for all to see would be a good determent. US included, but...

[RKMctrog007]

The US wouldn't ever go that way, too many bleeding hearts. I like the idea though, cut off the offending member. don't kill them though, the point isn't made that way. do the deed and the let them live with it. might not hurt to force them to dress as women as well. not gender change but just to have to dress in drag. kinda hard to hide things that way. they get caught with pants on, other things can be done.
Yeah I know it is a little extreem but isn't rape of an innocent women or young girl just as bad?

[justbefair1]

yes, cut off not just hands....

[yermamma]

Well it's obvious. They need to outlaw buses. That's what we would do.

[yermamma]

No that's too harsh... maybe only allow limited capacity buses.

[jwilsonte5]

we need to stop all the gang rapes and rapes here !! we have teenagers commiting these crime and 1000s a day. we dont need to tell indian how to live why not report on crimes here !!!

[nehicks]

Why do these dirt-bags get to have their faces covered? The whole country should be able to see them and KNOW whose family produced these monsters. They have no shame in attacking an unarmed woman; why should they be ashamed to show their faces on international TV?

[raymailhot]

This is an odd country to report on gang rapes as if it doesn't happen here! I am glad the Indians are being outraged. They should be! When will we be outraged by rape? CBS still puts clinton on the cover like he is a good man!

[justbefair1]

Clinton didnt rape , He dint have sex with Monika, oral pleasure is not sex!!! He didnt forse Monika, look att other politicians who are doing the same, and no one is saying anything about. It is not just Clinton. Few months ego new was; Boehnior -Speaker of the House had affair , witch cost US at list 300.000 , whay about this??? One short news and no one say anything again!!!

[t13hydra]

Death should come to a legal penalty for rape & murder in all the countries of the world! Raping is unacceptable, but raping AND killing is a clear form of sick minds that would do even more sick things in the future, no matter how many years they get sentenced. I think taking their lives or locking them in for life would seriously make them think before they act!

Steve - Romania - ...another country of raping and killing...

[Foogazee]

Gonna rename these people "pOOn JoB"

[nohater]

don't get it. what do you mean?

[LateInTheDay]

Disgusting