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SINGAPORE — A 23-year-old Indian woman who was gang-raped and severely beaten on a bus in New Delhi died Saturday at a Singapore hospital.
The woman's horrific ordeal galvanized Indians to demand greater protections against widespread sexual violence, and her death was expected to intensify public demands for action by the Indian government.
The victim who has not been identified, "passed away peacefully" with her family and officials of the Indian embassy by her side," said Kelvin Loh, the chief executive of Mount Elizabeth Hospital, where she had been treated since Thursday. "The Mount Elizabeth Hospital team of doctors, nurses and staff join her family in mourning her loss," he said in a statement.
The woman and a male friend were traveling in a public bus after watching a film on the evening of Dec. 16 when they were attacked by six men who took turns raping her. They also beat the couple and inserted an iron rod into her body resulting in severe organ damage. Both of them were then stripped and thrown off the bus, according to police.
The woman was airlifted to Singapore on Dec. 26 for specialist treatment, but she had remained in extremely critical condition, Loh said.
The victim had already undergone three abdominal operations before arriving in Singapore, where her condition on Thursday was described as "extremely critical."
Photos: Police try to temper outrage over gang rape
"Despite all efforts by a team of eight specialists in Mount Elizabeth Hospital to keep her stable, her condition continued to deteriorate over these two days," said Loh on Saturday. "She had suffered from severe organ failure following serious injuries to her body and brain. 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."
Related video:
Rape ignites outrage
Protesters call for execution
The attack triggered nationwide protest over the lack of safety for women, culminating last weekend in pitched battles between police and protesters in the heart of the capital.
New Delhi has the highest number of sex crimes among India's major cities, with a rape reported on average every 18 hours, according to police figures. Government data show the number of reported rape cases in the country rose by nearly 17 percent between 2007 and 2011.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government seemed at first caught off guard by the reaction to the attack, which sparked a blame game between politicians and the police.
On Saturday he said that 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.
"These are perfectly understandable reactions from a young India and an India that genuinely desires change," Singh said in a statement. "It would be a true homage to her memory if we are able to channel these emotions and energies into a constructive course of action."
He said the government was examining the penalties for crimes such as rape "to enhance the safety and security of women."
Indian television channels said security had been tightened in New Delhi on Saturday in anticipation of more protests following the woman's death.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Protests continued across New Delhi, India, where around 500 people marched in response to the recent gang rape of a young woman. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.
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Leave a Comment:
Where does it say that 6 men were arrested. I don't see the police arresting anyone or that they are likely to arrest anyone. Women are treated like dirt.
We as women should get motivated and unite to fight how women are treated...Abroad and right here in the US....but this seems to be not the 70's or when the suffragettes existed....sad that women cannot fight this violence that men perpetuate. Women (and the men that are good and enlightened) should unite.
I guarantee those rapist gangs listen to Rap music. Indian style.
Go ahead and tell me the problem is not violence in media and music again.
just disgusting. my heart aches for this woman. don't these men have mothers? sisters? don't these men remember is was their mother that brought them into this world. if it weren't for the women, THEY WOULDN'T BE HERE!! just pisses me off.
I would like to ask, what is wrong with the male gender? Why is it you must kill, rape, be violent, ego-manical and be driven by greed? Can you imagine what the world would be like without men? Ahhhh, I actually had a second of peace...Men- care to answer? Of course I know there are peaceful loving men in this world- I know some...This is not a man bashing thing- some men are great...But why when humanity suffers so much at the hands of men, why is this not discussed more?
nothing like generalizing. try this one:
I would like to ask, what is wrong with the female gender? Why is it you must act like total bitches during your "cycle"? Can you imagine what the world would be like without women? Ahhhh, I actually had a second of peace...Females- care to answer? Of course I know there are peaceful loving women in this world- I know some...This is not a woman bashing thing- some women are great...But why when men suffers so much at the hands of women every month, why is this not discussed more?
(of course I'm joking, just realize it's a two-way street)
we may be a bitch on our cycle but we don't try to rape, mame, or kill. most violent or sexual crimes are committed by men, it is not a two way street you are wrong on this one and have the nerve to try and do so. you woman hater
krm-978232-
Okay, I see you are trying to make a point but you failed miserably.
I remember when a young student from my neighborhood was gang raped. The doctors said it would be better for her if she did not survive. That is how vicious the attack was. Sometimes I wish we could sterilize women who raise these children who become psychopaths.
Well, so we punish women more? It's the mothers' faults? You didn't study much about what makes a person a psychopath, did you?
fight for freedom-2341533-
Words can't even explain how much of an idiot I think you are right now.
What a wonderful idea! Let's punish the rapists' moms! Dad had nothing to do with their upbringing, or that fact that society approves of men being @!$%#s to women. This is a fine example of public education at its best.
What kind of excuse does the bus driver have for not stopping this brutal attack, or at least calling the police????????
I was wondering that, I just couldn't tell from the article if it was a public bus or much of anything, really. Nothing about the scum caught, not much in the article. Who could do that to another human being?
From previous reports, this was some kind of 'private' bus that happened to stop at their bus stop, where her and her friend got on...the bus only had the attackers and bus driver (who may have been part of it) on the bus. This was not a public transpo type of bus.
The other almost unbelievable part is that the bus went through multiple police checkpoints while the attack was going on and nothing was done.
The world is one messed up place.
That is totally unbelievable. I don't doubt it happened, and you are right, the world is one messed up place.
Women can't fix men. Only men can fix men. It is a patriarchal world for the most part, in other words, male oriented. Men have assumed power and superiority and only they can give it up and share it with women. That is not to say that women should not continue to fight for equality and their rights. Certain crimes on this planet are committed overwhelmingly by men. It irks me when the perpetrators of these crimes are reported simply as "people". If men did it, men need full credit for it. Change the language, change the culture. Men need to clean up their acts on rape. If you as a man do not rape, you are still responsible for finding the solution and for educating male children about values that do not include mysogyny and patriarchal values.
I think those monsters should get to choose between the death penalty or life without their "appendages" - cut off the things they use as weapons - hands & male parts - and then push them back into the streets to survive. I know this may sound harsh, but I think anyone who could do this to another human being is no longer human, they are a monster and should taken out. If men knew this would be the consequences for raping someone, they may think twice. Clearly, they thought they would get away with this horrible crime. I hope the young girl recovers and I will be praying for her health and for swift, brutal justice!
Hopefully if they catch these guys India has some adequate way to punish them, because the US sure doesn't punish rapists adequately.
Fight for freedom - better yet, sterilize the men who create sociopaths (sarcasm). Please. Either way is barbaric and no solution at all. That is so wrong.
Phones I could not agree more. Sterilize the men first and then the women. As a woman I do not excuse women for their role in raising their children in such a way that they becomes vicious criminals. However I would agree that as long as men hold most of the power in society then they should also hold most of the responsibility. The reason I spoke of the women is that they are the vessels that allow life to grow. Even though many women are male identified and unable to step away from the need to irresponsible reproduction they still are responsible in part for the problem.
Hmm...strange. So you want to have an outline for that? If your child grows up and does x act you are sterilized? How about if one turns out horrible and the other 6 are awesome? Nope, you get punished for one kid who was messed up from the start? Brilliant.
Phone with regard to your sarcasm I did say it was a dream. The only way to effect real change to the irresponsible birth rate growth is through a voluntary response. I might also add that it is barbaric to raise children to become criminals and irresponsible to bring children into the world when you do not have the physical or psychological skills to give them a fair chance in life. I have seen how many of these kids are raised and it is crimminal. That is the reason why these kids become criminals. Children should have the right to be born to parents or parent who is capable of giving them a loving and secure home. They are not a possession. This patriarchal position that a person can have as many children as they want regardless of its impact on the planet and the human species future is wrong and shows the scope of the Patriarchy's posiiton of ownership over life.
It doesn't matter what religion they were, supposed "Christians" rape women here in the USA. It's not like these scum raped the woman in the name of any particular religion, they raped the woman because she was a woman and thought they could get away with it. Here in the US, according to some judges, victims ask for what they get by dressing provacatively, smiling the wrong way, not saying NO fast enough or in the right tone of voice to let their attackers know that they really really don't want to be violated. That's how it is here, can't imagine there is much difference in India.
This subject is not a joking matter. It's also not a subject where anyone should start casting blame on the victim or voting for and encouraging comments of intolerance (implying that gays rape). It's misguided and hateful comments like that that creates more intolerance and hate of others, be it women or gay men. We are supposed to be the SMART species. Let's start acting like it.
just disgusting. my heart aches for this woman. don't these men have mothers? sisters? if it weren't for women, they WOULDN'T BE HERE!!! pisses me off.
I think they need to send these gang rapers to Singapore themselves. Then they can get caned so hard and beaten severely for what they did. I mean sure give them a court case in India but if found guilty their sentence to spend it in Singapore.
Apt punishment for such heinous act should be penectomy and them hang them naked in public. it should send shivers to all men ( In India or anywhere) who have even remote thoughts of performing such brutal acts against woman.
Hopefully the culprits will be punished before the victim dies ( if she is still alive?). I am still wondering why the government had to airlift her to a hospital in Singapore when India has equally well equipped super speciality hospitals??
alot of brave "MEN" there....hope they all rot in there religions version of hell...
convicted rapists, especially the violent ones, should always have their testicles removed... why is this not common sense?
Yus; Good thought but have to take the prostate too !!!
It never ceases to to amaze me that all these country that hate the USA have written their protest signs in English.
lol. always noticed that too.
Not sure that Indians in general "hate the USA" (at least, no more than any other country in the world).
You do realize that India (like the USA) was a British territory at one point?
And that English isn't an American invention?
India does not hate the US. Where are you getting your facts from?
Sounds like men over there respect women about as much as they do the local goats....
one of the biggest reasons why females should learn to handle a gun and be carrying one.
India---why are you surprised ?? Muslim--majority population !! India also is said to have 'death camps' for little girls--their society does not want girls except to be abused !! The little girls are supposed to be given water--no food --starve to death !!
America becoming just as bad VERY FAST !! See Chicago just anounced as murder capital---Newtown Babies murdered !! America becoming a terrible place to live very quickly---most of the world the same !!
I thought India was more Hindhu than Muslim. I just hope these pos have a crappy reincarnation, if that is their belief system.
Sheila: You may be correct ? I have an acquaintance that he and his wife came to this Country in their elderly years--India natives. Reason was their two children were American educated MDs . He was of christian belief but always said India was ~ 10% christian with the remaining being muslim ?? His statements were all I was going by---you could be correct !!
Mostly Hindu - 80% I think. TDoc - you may be thinking of Pakistan?
Nonsense. What lies. You should be ashamed.
this is disgusting. rape happens everyday to so many people... i think that there should be a world law that if you rape someone you're punishment be that you be raped to death. the sick demented people that get off on raping not only women but think of the kids that get raped. omfg i want to vomit.
And of course her attackers will never be punished. Isn't that the Indian way. Men can do what ever they want to women. It's only the women protesting, the men don't give a crap, she was someone's property that's all nothing more. It's the Hindu way. What a bunch of crap.
Women need PROTECTION !!.. whether its from good men,being armed or technology alert devices or something else.. Women need Protection Worldwide......
Your attitude becomes discriminatory. Why only women needs protection, children and other men need protection from Indian and Pakistanis. Why do women get preferential treatment. They want equality they can learn to fight for themselves and garner support from other women, why didnt other women step in and stand up to these thugs and try to stop the rape, because it is accepted in their society and women in these countries dont really care that much. They are animals who want everyone else to protect them, so they can be the victims and need help from the US or other countries.
Indian and Pakistanis are animals, they are known for their drive to have sex with any woman, children and other men. These people are known for their animalistic behavior and more and more of them are coming to the US to get more and more of what they want.
These people are filthy pigs and need to be watched very carefully.
No agenda of your own there I see. Geez. Take a breath and stop being nasty.
Clearly a society not worthy to be on this earth.
I don't think it is the society, it is the deviants from the society. There is evil in every country in the world, every society. Look at ours.
My heart goes out to this woman as well as each and every woman who has suffered this type of crime. My mind and heart can't fathom what she must have gone through. One of my first impressions as I read the article above is that I didn't read one word about investigation, possible suspects, arrests, etc. I'm in the legal arena so my mind just goes there automatically. I hope with everything I have that this will not be another case of men protecting men in Singapore . And just to comment on the remark about "her body didn't will itself against rape". It's an incorrect quote. I pray for a miracle for this young lady that only God can release.
It would have been nice if He would have released the miracle before the attack. You know, maybe causing a bus crash with six ( or however many rapists ) fatalities.