Singapore: The 23-year-old victim of the brutal gang rape and assault in Delhi that had triggered an outrage across India died early this morning here after putting up a brave battle for life for nearly a fortnight.

The girl, who was admitted to the well-known multi-organ transplant facility Mount Elizabeth Hospital here on Thursday morning in an extremely critical condition, breathed her last at 4:45 am (2:15 am IST). She was earlier treated at the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.

"We are very sad to report that the patient passed away peacefully at 4.45 am on 29 Dec 2012 (Singapore time)," the hospital's Chief Executive Officer Dr Kelvin Loh said in a statement.

"Her family and officials from the High Commission of India were by her side. The Mount Elizabeth Hospital team of doctors, nurses and staff join her family in mourning her loss," the statement said.

The body has been moved to the mortuary in the Singapore General Hospital and will be flown back to India by a chartered plane. Accompanied by her family, the body is expected to arrive in Delhi in the night.

The girl was raped and brutally assaulted in a moving bus by six men in Delhi on December 16 and thrown out along with her companion.

Indian High Commissioner T C A Raghavan told reporters that the family was yet to decide on the plans for the last rites back home.

He said the girl fought a brave battle till the end. She was brought to Singapore for being provided good medical treatment.

Meanwhile, the hospital added: "We are humbled by the privilege of being tasked to care for her in her final struggle. We acknowledge the faith the Indian Government and the patient's family have placed with us to ensure the best care possible was indeed provided to her at Mount Elizabeth Hospital".

"We share their huge sadness at her passing and will work with the High Commission of India to provide the family support in this time of grief," said Dr Loh.

Late last night, the hospital said the condition of the rape victim had taken a "turn for the worse".

"As of 9 pm (6:30 PM IST), the patient's condition has taken a turn for the worse. Her vital signs are deteriorating with signs of severe organ failure," Loh had said in a statement.

"This is despite doctors fighting for her life, including putting her on maximum artificial ventilation support, optimal antibiotic doses as well as stimulants which maximise her body's capability to fight infections," the CEO had said.

During her treatment at Safdarjung Hospital, the girl's condition had recorded several ups and downs. Three days after the attack, her gangrenous intestine was removed.

The beastial attack on the girl and her male friend in the bus had sparked off protests by students and women activists which took a violent turn in the capital last Saturday and Sunday.

Death for rapists was one of the demands of the protesters and the victim's demise could trigger fresh display of emotions on the streets.

One of the Delhi police constables Subhash Chand Tomar died in a government hospital on Tuesday and the post-mortem report had said that he had suffered a cardiac arrest from complications arising out of injuries on his chest and neck.

Shaken by the public outrage, government constituted a Commission of Inquiry into the incident and also set up a three-member Committee under former Supreme Court Chief Justice A S Anand to look into the possibility of rewriting the laws relating to aggravated sexual assault and enhancing penalty for it.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi had yesterday demanded speedy action against the perpetrators of the "barbarous" attack while Prime Minister said the government was committed to bringing the guilty to justice as soon as possible. — PTI

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Saturday invoked murder charges against the men allegedly involved in the gang-rape of a 23-year-old girl in a moving bus after she died in a Singapore hospital and decided to file the charge sheet in court on January 3, 2013. 

Police said it will be their endeavour to ensure the “harshest punishment in the book” to the culprits. 

“We hope to file the chargesheet by the 3rd of January, 2013. Section 302 of IPC, which is the penal section for murder, has been added in the case,” Dharmendra Kumar, Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), said. 

He said a Special Public Prosecutor of eminence has been appointed to conduct the trial in a Fast Track Court on a day-to-day basis. “It will be our endeavour to ensure the harshest punishment in the book to the culprits,” he said. 

The autopsy of the victim was done by a Singaporean Medical Team and the report will be made available to investigators at the earliest. 

“In this moment of national grief following the loss of a young and innocent life to a barbaric crime, we appeal to members of public to stay calm and maintain peace. 

“We, in the Delhi Police, as citizens of this country are equally saddened, if not more. Our sympathy goes out to the bereaved family,” he said. 

The police had initially booked the six men under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 201 (destruction of evidence), 365 (kidnapping or abducting), 376 (2)(g) (gang rape), 377 (unnatural offences), 394 (hurting in committing robbery) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. 

The girl had boarded the bus, thinking it to be a legitimate public carriage, from Munirka but was attacked and gang-raped even as her male friend accompanying her tried to protect her. He was also injured in the incident. 

The arrested persons are driver Ram Singh, his brother Mukesh, Akshay Singh alias Thakur, Pavan and Vinay. The sixth person apprehended claimed that he is a minor and the police have sought the court’s permission to get a bone test to ascertain his age. 

Meanwhile, Thakur was remanded in judicial custody for 12 days by a Delhi court. 

Thakur, who was the last one to be arrested in the case, was produced before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Lokesh Kumar Sharma after expiry of his day-long police custody. 

“He (Thakur) is remanded in judicial custody. Let he be produced on January 9,” the court said after the police did not seek his further custody. 

Thakur had been remanded in police custody on Friday for a day to recover the remaining case property and clothes which he and other arrested five co-accused were wearing while allegedly raping and brutally assaulting the victim. 

After the day-long custody, the police did not seek his further remand as they recovered the articles, which had not been recovered earlier. 

The investigating officer in the case told the court that they have seized the clothes of the accused worn on the night of incident and also the mobile of the girl and ATM card of her male friend and other valuables at the instance of Thakur. 

It also said the victim’s male friend, a 28-year-old software engineer had identified the valuables, which were robbed from them after the incident. 

The police told the court that victim's friend had even identified the ring, which girl was wearing on that night. 

Thakur was arrested on December 21, 2012, and underwent test identification parade on December 26. 

Besides him, the others arrested in the gang-rape case are in judicial custody till January 6. — PTI

NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Saturday faced public rage when she was forced to return from Jantar Mantar where she went to take part in mourning the death of the 23-year-old gang-rape victim.

Dikshit reached Jantar Mantar, where around 500 people gathered for mourning the death of the girl at around 2 pm, but had to beat a hasty retreat as enraged protesters circled and forced her to return.

The Chief Minister and the police tried to reason with the protesters and allow her to be part of the gathering but the demonstrators were in no mood to oblige.

However before leaving Jantar Mantar, she lit a candle and prayed for the victim.

“I had gone there to express my grief at the death of the girl,” she told PTI when asked about her visit to Jantar Mantar.

“Do you want to politicise somebody’s death. Why didn’t she come when the protests first began? She even asked the police to remove us when we protested outside her residence,” a protester said.

Within minutes, she was escorted out of the area by the police.

People started gathering at Jantar Mantar here at around 10 am and sat in silence.

Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Kumar Vishwas had also joined the protest along with some of their supporters with their mouth tied with black cloth. 

NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said the government had heard the people's voice demanding an end to crime against women.

"I want to assure you that your voice has been heard," she said in a statement after the death of the 23-year-old gang-rape victim died in a Singapore hospital.

Gandhi said she was aware that people had taken to the streets in large numbers in support of the victim.

As a woman and mother, she said, she shared the people's concerns following the Delhi gang-rape and growing violence against women.

She urged the people to remain calm and "help strengthen our collective resolve" to stop such crimes.

Stating that the young woman's death won't go in vain, she said all Indians were grieving today.

"It is our resolve to fight with all our might and all the powers of our laws and administration for the safety and protection of all women of our country and to ensure swift and fitting punishment for the perpetrators of such brutal acts," Gandhi said. — IANS

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday condoled the death of the Delhi gang-rape victim and expressed the hope that the entire political class and civil society will set aside narrow sectional interests and agenda to make India a demonstrably safer place to live in. 

He said it would be a true homage to her memory if the emotions and energies of the youth generated by the brutal assault on her are channelised into a constructive course of action. 

Deeply saddened by the death of the girl, he joined the nation in conveying to her family and friends his deepest condolences at this terrible loss. 

“I want to tell them and the nation that while she may have lost her battle for life, it is up to us all to ensure that her death will not have been in vain. We have already seen the emotions and energies this incident has generated. These are perfectly understandable reactions from a young India and an India that genuinely desires change. It would be a true homage to her memory if we are able to channelise these emotions and energies into a constructive course of action,” he said in his condolence message. 

He said the need of the hour is a dispassionate debate and inquiry into the critical changes that are required in societal attitudes. 

The government, Singh said, was examining on priority basis the penal provisions that exist for such crimes and measures to enhance the safety and security of women. 

“I hope that the entire political class and civil society will set aside narrow sectional interests and agenda to help us all reach the end that we all desire making India a demonstrably better and safe place for women to live in,” Singh said in his condolence message. 

The Prime Minister said he prays for the peace of the departed soul and hoped that her family will have the strength to bear this grievous loss. 

Describing the 23-year-old gang-rape victim as a “brave daughter of India”, President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said all steps to bring the perpetrators of this “ghastly crime” to justice should be taken to ensure that her death will not be in vain. 

“She was a brave and courageous girl who fought till the very last minute for her dignity and her life. She is a true hero and symbolises the best in Indian youth and women...The nation will mourn the passing of this brave daughter of India,” the President said in his condolence message. 

He appealed for peace and calm and called upon authorities to take all necessary steps to bring the perpetrators of this ghastly crime to justice. 

“Deeply distressed” by the “unfortunate demise” of the girl, he said while conveying his condolences to her parents and family who have faced this adversity with “fortitude and grace” and prayed that they have the strength to bear this loss. 

“At the same time, let us resolve that this death will not be in vain. We will do everything possible to ensure that such an incident never happens again,” he said. 

Condoling the death, Vice-President Hamid Ansari said, “I am profoundly saddened at the passing away of the young girl, rightly being referred to as India’s daughter”. 

“A young, promising life has been brutally snatched away in most tragic circumstances. Not only has the family lost a daughter and a sister, every Indian is today feeling the sense of loss as we all had come to identify with the braveheart as she fought valiantly for her life,” he said. 

Ansari expressed hope that “this heart rending tragedy would compel us as people to focus on social norms and practices which are violative of human rights and an impediment to progress in the modern world.” 

Condoling the death of the gang-rape victim, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, on Saturday pledged to strengthen laws to ensure that such incidents are not repeated. 

He also said that the real tribute to the 23-year-old victim will be to ensure maximum punishment to the culprits. 

In a message to the family, he said, “A real tribute to her will be to ensure maximum punishment to the culprits. I pledge to work to strengthen the laws and ensure that such an incident never gets repeated again,” he said. 

“We tried our best to provide the best health care. Government is committed to seek deterrent punishment to the accused,” Mr. Shinde said. 

“The government is also committed to make necessary changes in law to make it more stringent so that such incidents do not occur in future,” he said. 

Minister of State for Home R.P.N. Singh assured the family of the girl that the Government would work towards ensuring “harshest possible” punishment for her killers in the “quickest possible time”. 

“The government will work overtime to try and bring about laws and steps that ensure that no other citizen of the country has to go undergo the same kind of trauma,” Mr. Singh said. 

Terming the gang-rape of the 23-year-old girl as a “shameful incident” for her as an administrator, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, on Saturday, condoled the death of the victim and said one must ensure that such “ghastly” acts do not happen again. 

She also appealed to people to maintain peace and calm against the backdrop of violent demonstrations last weekend over the gang-rape incident. 

“Our heart goes to the family. My heart is burning over the incident. The passing away of the girl is a truly and terribly tragic incident. It shook our conscience,” Ms. Dikshit said. 

“It is a shameful incident for me as a Chief Minister and also as a citizen of Delhi. It is time for all of us to reflect on what has happened. We all must ensure such ghastly incident do not happen in future. I pray for her,” Dikshit said. — PTI