The Delhi girl who got gang raped in a bus has made news worldwide and sent shock waves cross the world. The girl, 23, unfortunately died from her injuries in a hospital right here in Singapore, just three days shy of welcoming the New Year.
What happened
According to reports on Yahoo!, the girl and her male companion had boarded a bus after catching a movie on the 16th of December. Unfortunately, upon entering the bus, they were assaulted by six men who beat both her and her companion up, before gang raping her and even using an iron rod to sexually assault her. After having their way with her and robbing them of all their valuables, they went on to throw both of them out of the bus and leave them to die.
Why no one noticed
This was a bus that was driving around the streets of Delhi and according to reports had also gone through police barricades. Surely someone could have seen these atrocities being done. Sadly, the torture endured was hidden from public view due to the tinted windows and curtains in the bus, which are considered a norm even for public transport in Delhi.
Brave sufferer
The girl, whose identity has not been released to protect her and her family’s privacy, suffered immense internal trauma. Yet, through her pain, she still found the strength and courage to give two interviews to police and a magistrate about the ordeal. Most of her intestines, which were affected had to be removed, but her family had been hopeful of her recovery.
A sad end
Unfortunately she was unable to overcome the severe trauma inflicted on both her body and mind and despite treatment in Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital, she succumbed to her injuries and died from severe organ failure following serious injuries to her body and brain.
The nation reacts
There has been an outpouring of grief since news of her death broke last Saturday. But more than that, there has been a very vocal and tangible protest against the violence and treatment of women in India.
Demonstrators have stormed the streets since news of the rape came to light to protest the treatment o f women and rape victims in India. Thousands of them have also clashed with police when they tried to march to the presidential building in Delhi.
Thousands more have gathered on the streets all over India and the world as news of the girl’s death broke last Saturday as they laid down flowers and held placards to mourn her death as well as demand for tougher laws to protect women in the country.
The rape capital
Delhi has become known as the ‘rape capital’ after seeing a 20% increase in rape cases being reported from 2011. Yet, for every rape that is reported there are hundreds more which are not.
Some observers have gone on to say that a silver lining has come out of this tragic incident as finally the plight of women in India is finally getting the attention it deserves.
What next?
As of this moment, all six of her alleged assailants have been caught and are currently remanded as they wait to face murder trials in a fast-track court in the coming weeks. If convicted, they will face the death sentence. This is monumental for the Indian court system as so far, only one of the reported cases of rape this year has led to any conviction.
Lessons that can be learnt
Right here in Singapore, leaders have spoken out on the attacks and point to the lessons that can be learnt.
In a report by the Straits Times, it was stated that Minister of State for Social and Family Development, Halimah Yacob had written a note on her Facebook page stating that women are still being treated as ‘inferior beings” in many societies, where they are seen as unworthy of respect and dignity.
She cited the example of a friend in Malaysia who had told off male trade unionists when they made sexist jokes about women. She says that, “People may think that this is just a small matter…over time, all the small things add up.”
After all sexual harassment comes in many different forms and all women should be protected.
Honouring the victim
In a BBC news update, it was reported that there have been calls by government officers to reveal the name of the victim. This was so the new anti-rape law in India could be named after her.
India’s Junior Education Minister Shashi Tharoor had written on Twitter late on New Year’s Day, “Wondering what interest is served by continuing anonymity of the Delhi gang rape victim. Why not name and honour her as a real person with own identity?”
“Unless her parents object, she should be honoured and the revised anti-rape law named after her. She was a human being with a name, not just a symbol,” he wrote.
Tharoor’s suggestion has been met by support and condemnation, with some of the heavier critics calling the suggestion ‘deplorable’ as well as calls by India’s main opposition party India’s Bharatiya Janata Party to “oppose any such move”.
On the other hand, it has been reported that her family has said they would have no objection if a new anti-rape law should be named after her.
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