A medical student who was savagely gangraped in New Delhi died in a
Singapore hospital Saturday, triggering appeals for calm from leaders
who feared a fresh outburst of violent street protests.
Police threw a ring of steel around the centre of the capital after news of the 23-year-old's death was broken in the early hours of the morning by the Singapore hospital that had been treating her for the last two days.
Scores of people on Saturday mourned in silence the death of the 23-year-old gangrape victim and demanded stringent punishment for the culprits.
People started gathering at Jantar Mantar here at around 10am and sat in silence.
Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Kumar Vishwas also joined the protest along with some of their supporters with their mouth tied with black cloth.
Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "Her death is a matter of shame and sorrow for all of us. Let's resolve that we will not let her death go in vain.
"Aren't we all responsible for her death? Can we all now do something so that half of humanity starts feeling safe amongst us?" he said.
The mourners protested against the security lock down of India Gate and Raisina Hill where violent demonstrations were witnessed last weekend over the rape.
"The government is not even allowing mourning of the death. This is insensitivity. There is complete lock down. You have the metro stations shut. You have a road completely blocked. This is undemocratic," a protester Sunil said.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led the tributes to the victim but urged protesters to channel their anger constructively.
Singh said he was aware of the emotions the attack has stirred and that it was up to all Indians to ensure that the young woman's death will not have been in vain.
According to doctors in Singapore, the student lost her fight for life at 4:45am (20.45 GMT), nearly two weeks after the brutal attack that horrified India.
Continue reading...
Police threw a ring of steel around the centre of the capital after news of the 23-year-old's death was broken in the early hours of the morning by the Singapore hospital that had been treating her for the last two days.
Scores of people on Saturday mourned in silence the death of the 23-year-old gangrape victim and demanded stringent punishment for the culprits.
People started gathering at Jantar Mantar here at around 10am and sat in silence.
Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Kumar Vishwas also joined the protest along with some of their supporters with their mouth tied with black cloth.
Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "Her death is a matter of shame and sorrow for all of us. Let's resolve that we will not let her death go in vain.
"Aren't we all responsible for her death? Can we all now do something so that half of humanity starts feeling safe amongst us?" he said.
The mourners protested against the security lock down of India Gate and Raisina Hill where violent demonstrations were witnessed last weekend over the rape.
"The government is not even allowing mourning of the death. This is insensitivity. There is complete lock down. You have the metro stations shut. You have a road completely blocked. This is undemocratic," a protester Sunil said.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led the tributes to the victim but urged protesters to channel their anger constructively.
Singh said he was aware of the emotions the attack has stirred and that it was up to all Indians to ensure that the young woman's death will not have been in vain.
According to doctors in Singapore, the student lost her fight for life at 4:45am (20.45 GMT), nearly two weeks after the brutal attack that horrified India.
