Delhi gang-rape: Victim’s father wants death penalty for accused

ZEENEWS   UPDATE

New Delhi: As violent protests were witnessed across the national capital over the weekend, the 23-year-old gang-rape victim’s father appealed to people to maintain peace calm and pray for his daughter.

Expressing his anger towards the six accused who gang-raped and tortured his daughter, he said, “I want death penalty for all accused. If they remain alive they will continue to commit such a crime. If anything less punishment is given to them, I will not be satisfied.”

 

Speaking to a news channel Sunday night the grieved father said, “My daughter’s condition is stable and better now. Doctors have said she is responding to the treatment but will take time to fully recover.”

The distressed father appealed people to remain calm and not resort to violent ways while protesting. He also appealed to pray for his daughter’s health.

“My daughter has always fought against all odds since her childhood whether it was poverty or her studies and I hope she will continue to fight now also and overcome all difficulties.”

Doctors at the Safdarjung Hospital said today that the girl is stable but critical and is on ventilator electively. She underwent a "small operation" yesterday after medical examination suggested fluid collection in her abdomen.

Mass protests for the third straight day Sunday against the gang-rape of a young woman turned violent, leaving scores injured, including one policeman in critical condition, and turning the India Gate area into a virtual war zone.

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Delhi gang rape: Police use teargas, water cannons as protests intensify

NEW DELHI: Teargas shells were lobbed and water cannons used at protesters at India Gate agitating against the gang rape of a young girl today as they marched towards Raisina Hill, hours after police evacuated demonstrators from there and Sonia Gandhi's residence.

Police use teargas, water cannons to disperse protesters

This was the second successive day that police resorted to lobbing teargas shells and use of waterjets besides using force to contain the protest demanding speedy justice and stringent punishment for the accused in last Sunday night's incident. Doctors said the condition of the victim continues to be critical.

A group of protesters also met Sonia and Rahul Gandhi during which the Congress top leaders assured speedy action while refusing to give a time-frame for it.

Some protesters indulged in violence as they stopped East Delhi MP Sandeep Dikshit at India Gate, heckled him and damaged his car as well as a government jeep ferrying officials and clashed with the police while trying to march towards Raisina Hills, where Rashtrapati Bhavan and key government ministries are located.

Central Delhi faced huge traffic chaos due to a security clampdown on Rajpath even as protesters blocked roads near India Gate.

Teargas shells were lobbed at the agitators near India Gate at around 1pm as they tried to enter Rajpath to head towards Raisina Hills. However, later they were allowed to proceed in a bid to ease traffic on the radial road.

The protesters then tried to cross the barricades and clashed with the police who resorted to the use of water cannons at 1:15pm.

Early this morning, around 50-60 protesters, who stayed put at Raisina Hills throughout the night and some others infront of Sonia Gandhi's 10, Janpath residence, were evacuated while high drama was witnessed at India Gate when agitators resisted police attempts to detain them for defying prohibitory orders.

The protesters assembled near the war memorial from 9am when they were asked to vacate the location by the police which said the area was under prohibitory order under Section 144 of CrPC which bans the assembly of four or more persons.

As the protesters remained defiant, police forcibly removed them from the spot.

Some of the protesters tried to get out of the police van but were pushed back into the vehicle. Later, the protesters also deflated the tyres of the bus which was carrying them while a group of girls lay down infront of it.

Women protesters alleged that they were manhandled by male police personnel though women police were present at the spot.

A large number of policemen were deployed and Raisina Hills and Rajpath were barricaded. Eight Metro stations near India Gate and Raisina Hills were closed as part of police measures to contain the agitation.

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Delhi gang rape: Victim continues to be critical, doctors say

NEW DELHI: The condition of the 23-year-old girl, who was gang raped in a moving bus last Sunday, continues to be critical and doctors are subjecting her to various tests today.

"We are subjecting her to all examinations and procedures. She continues to be critical," Dr B D Athani, medical superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital, told PTI.

Doctors had said yesterday that the rape victim is psychologically "composed and optimistic" about her future and has started communicating.

Doctors had also said they are keeping the patient on high doses of antibiotics and high standards of hygiene - two important factors for preventing infection.

Prohibitory orders clamped, protesters defy police

Earlier, hours after police evacuated demonstrators from Raisina Hills and Sonia Gandhi's residence, high drama was witnessed at India Gate today when protesters resisted police attempts to detain them for defying prohibitory orders to protest against the gang rape of a young girl.

The protesters assembled near the war memorial from 9am when they were asked to vacate the location by the police which said the area was under Section 144 of CrPC which bans the assembly of four or more persons. As the protesters remained defiant, police forcibly removed them from the spot.

Some of the protesters tried to get out of the police van but were pushed back into the vehicle. Later, the protesters also punctured the tyres of the bus which was carrying them while a group of girls lay down infront of it. Women protesters alleged that they were manhandled by male police personnel though women police were present at the spot.

"We are here to protest a heinous crime. We have the right to protest," said Pushpa, a Nepali national, who is pursuing studies here.

Earlier in the morning, the police evacuated a number of protesters from area of Raisina Hills, where Rashtrapati Bhavan and key government offices are located, and outside Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's 10, Janpath residence where they had stayed put since last night to protest against the gang-rape of the 23-year-old girl on Sunday last.

The protesters, most of them students, who spent a chilly night in the open after they fought pitched battles with the police throughout the day yesterday at Raisina Hills, were taken into a bus in an early morning operation. Outside Gandhi's residence also, protesters were taken into custody.

A large number of police men were deployed and Raisina Hills and Rajpath were barricaded. Eight metro stations near India Gate and Raisina Hills were closed as part of police preparations to contain the agitation.

The police clamped prohibitory orders in New Delhi district and asked protesters to stage demonstrations either at Jantar Mantar or Ramlila Maidan.

A Delhi Police statement said, "Protestors may go to Ramlila Maidan or Jantar Mantar. Traffic has been diverted from Vijay Chowk and Rajpath."

It said prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC have been issued in New Delhi area except Jantar Mantar.

Anticipating more protests on the gang rape issue, eight Delhi Metro stations near Raisina Hill and India Gate were also closed for public.

Last night, it was decided to close four stations — Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan and Race Course — but this morning it was extended to four more — Barakhamba Road, Mandi House, Khan Market and Pragati Maidan.

Though the commuters were less in the morning it being on Sunday, the few who chose to take the metro to reach these destinations were put to hardship as they unaware of the announcement made late last night by DMRC.

Delhi Metro's decision came on the directions of the Delhi Police. The stations will remain closed till further orders.

"The stations will remain closed till DMRC gets further orders from the Delhi Police. All the four stations are close to India Gate. However, interchange will be allowed at Central Secretariat station," DMRC officials said.

The police move came a day after thousands of youths clashed with the police at Raisina Hills protesting against the gang-rape and demanding speedy punishment to the accused.

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