Workers from a Hindu Casket service unload the body of the young Indian woman who was gang-raped in Delhi, to be embalmed on Saturday Dec. 29, 2012 in Singapore. The woman who was gang-raped and severely beaten on a bus in New Delhi died Saturday at the hospital, after her ordeal galvanized Indians to demand greater protection from sexual violence that impacts thousands of women daily, in homes, streets and public transport, but which often goes unreported. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Indian schoolgirls hold placards during a prayer ceremony to mourn the death of a 23-year-old gang rape victim, at a school in Ahmadabad, India, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. Shocked Indians on Saturday were mourning the death of the woman who was gang-raped and beaten on a bus in New Delhi nearly two weeks ago in an ordeal that galvanized people to demand greater protection for women from sexual violence. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Indian protesters and policemen throw stones at each other during a protest in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012. Police in India's capital used tear gas and water cannons for a second day Sunday in a high-security zone to break up protests by thousands of people demonstrating against the gang rape and beating of a 23-year-old student on a bus. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Indian policemen block a road to prevent protests in central New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. Authorities have sealed off a high-security zone in the Indian capital for a second day to put an end to a week of demonstrations against the brutal gang-rape of a woman on a moving bus. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal)
A protester is removed by Indian policemen while protesting against the brutal gang-rape of a woman on a moving bus in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. Authorities shut down roads in the heart of India's capital for the second consecutive day on Tuesday to put an end to a week of demonstrations against the gang-rape.(AP Photo/ Saurabh Das)
Indian anti-riot personnel stand guard at a check point after security was beefed up following the death of a young woman who was recently gang-raped in a moving bus in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. The Indian gang-rape victim died Saturday at a Singapore hospital, after her ordeal galvanized Indians to demand greater protection for women from sexual violence that impacts thousands of them every day.(AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
A female protester shouts as she is hit with an Indian police water cannon during a violent demonstration near the India Gate against a gang rape and brutal beating of a 23-year-old student on a bus last week, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012. The attack last Sunday has sparked days of protests across the country. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
A woman cries while attending a gathering of people who came together to mourn the death of the 23-year-old gang rape victim in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. The young Indian woman who was gang-raped and severely beaten on a bus in New Delhi died Saturday at a Singapore hospital, after her ordeal galvanized Indians to demand greater protection for women from sexual violence that impacts thousands of them every day. (AP Photo/ Saurabh Das)
Indian policewomen in riot gear stand guard at a check point after security was beefed up following the death of a young woman who was recently gang-raped in a moving bus, in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. The young Indian woman who was gang-raped and severely beaten on a bus in New Delhi died Saturday at a Singapore hospital, after her ordeal galvanized Indians to demand greater protection for women from sexual violence that impacts thousands of them every day. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Protesters use a sheet of aluminum fence to block the water from a police water cannon during a violent demonstration near the India Gate against a gang rape and brutal beating of a 23-year-old student on a bus last week, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012. The attack last Sunday has sparked days of protests across the country. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
Protesters shield themselves as Indian police prepare to beat them with sticks during a violent demonstration near the India Gate against a gang rape and brutal beating of a 23-year-old student on a bus last week, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012. The attack last Sunday has sparked days of protests across the country. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
A bouquet of roses are left in front of the empty coffin for the body of a young Indian woman who was gang-raped in Delhi, on Saturday Dec. 29, 2012 in Singapore. The woman who was gang-raped and severely beaten on a bus in New Delhi died Saturday at a Singapore hospital, after her ordeal galvanized Indians to demand greater protection for women from sexual violence that impacts thousands of them every day. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
29 December 2012
Police in New Delhi have confirmed that six men have been charged with murder following the death of a 23-year-old woman who was gang-raped on a bus in India.
The victim, who had been airlifted to Singapore for treatment for brain and other injuries after being attacked, died last night.
She had been repeatedly raped, had an iron rod shoved into her body causing severe organ damage, and was beaten about the body and head.
Dr Kevin Loh, chief executive of Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore, announced her death last night, saying: “She was courageous in fighting for her life for so long against the odds but the trauma to her body was too severe for her to overcome.”
Indian prime minister Manmohan 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.
New Delhi police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said the six face the death penalty if convicted, in a case that has triggered protests across India for greater protection for women from sexual violence, and raised questions about lax attitudes by police toward sexual crimes.
The woman had been in a critical condition since arriving at the hospital two days before her death. Mr Loh said she had “passed away peacefully” and that her family was by her side when she died.
“Despite all efforts by a team of eight specialists... her condition continued to deteriorate over these two days. She had suffered from severe organ failure,” he added.
The woman and a male friend had boarded a bus on 16 December when they were attacked by six men. Neither victim has been named, though elements of the Indian media have referred to the woman as “Amanat”, an Urdu word meaning “treasure”.
The crime in New Delhi has prompted violent protests demanding the authorities take a harder line against sexual offenders and offer more protection for women.
Among the responses since the first protests has been, according to the Press Trust of India, a pledge by junior minister Ratanjit Singh that the government will create a database of convicted rapists and publish it, along with their photos, on a ministry website to shame them.
But in India it is often the women who are blamed after a rape, not just by ordinary people but by politicians and other influential figures who have cited women as being at fault because they go out wearing clothes that might be perceived as provocative.
Abhijit Mukherjee, a national lawmaker and the son of India’s President, Pranab Kumar Mukherjee, was forced into an “unconditional apology” when he spoke of “highly dented and painted” women who go from discos to demonstrations.
In Punjab, an 18-year-old woman killed herself by drinking poison a month after she told police she was gang-raped.
State authorities have now suspended a police officer and fired two others for allegedly delaying the investigatiion. The three accused in the rape were only arrested on Thursday, 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. Authorities in the eastern state of Chhattisgarh suspended a police officer who was said to have refused to register a rape complaint from a woman.
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