On 6th death anniversary of a brave girl
New Delhi,December 16, 2012, is something that no woke Indian will ever forget. We all woke up to the shocking news of a 23-year-old girl getting brutally gang-raped on a moving bus. Her friend was beaten up badly too.
The incident took place in Murnika, a neighbourhood in South Delhi. This happened when a 23-year-old female physiotherapy intern, Jyoti Singh Pandey, was beaten, gang-raped, and tortured in a private bus in which she was travelling with her friend, Awindra Pratap Pandey. There were six others in the bus, including the driver, all of whom raped the woman and beat her friend. Eleven days after the assault, she was transferred to a hospital in Singapore for emergency treatment but died from her severe injuries two days later.
As per India’s judicial procedures a victim’s name cannot be revealed. Hence the victim was dubbed as ‘Nirbhaya’; meaning fearless. Her parents revealed her name later.
The incident created widespread protests all over India. State and Central Governments were criticised to provide ample security and stringent rules for the protection of women.
All the accused were arrested and charged with sexual assault and murder. One of the accused, Ram Singh, died in police custody from possible suicide on 11 March 2013 in the Tihar Jail.
Trial
The rest of the accused went on trial in a fast-track court; the prosecution finished presenting its evidence on 8 July 2013. The juvenile, Raju (name changed) was convicted of rape and murder and given the maximum sentence of three years’ imprisonment in a reform facility.
On 10 September 2013, the four remaining adult defendants were found guilty of rape and murder and three days later were sentenced to death by hanging. On 13 March 2014, Delhi High Court in the death reference case and hearing appeals against the conviction by the lower Court upheld the guilty verdict and the death sentences.
Results of Protests
In December 2012 a judicial committee was set up to amend laws to provide quicker investigation and prosecution of sex offenders. In 2013, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013 was promulgated by President Pranab Mukherjee. Several new laws were passed, and six new fast-track courts were created to hear rape cases.
Legacy
Nirbhaya-India’s Daughter continues to fight against the evils in spirit for other daughters of India. Her life and death have come to symbolise women’s struggle to end the rape culture in India and the long-held practice of either denial of its existence within the country, or otherwise blaming the victim rather than the perpetrator.
Prasanta Patnaik