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Altaf Qadri / AP
Protesters near the Indian parliament Thursday complain that a new sexual violence law is inadequate. Their signs call for the removal of the deputy chairman of the parliament's upper house, P.J. Kurien, who is facing rape allegations.
NEW DELHI -- Police were searching villages in western India on Friday for suspects in the rape and killing of three young sisters, as Indians still angry over the fatal gang rape of a woman on a New Delhi bus in December face another heinous sexual attack.
The bodies of the sisters — ages 7, 9 and 11 — were found Feb. 16 in a village well in Bhandara district in Maharashtra after they had gone missing from school two days earlier, said police officer Abhinav Deshmukh. The area is more than 600 miles south of New Delhi, the capital.
The victims' mother said police did not take the case seriously and did nothing for several days until villagers held protests.
Deshmukh said Friday that 10 teams of 30 investigators were working on the case and that he was confident they would find the killers soon.
Police first dismissed the deaths as accidental, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. The girls' mother accused police of a shoddy investigation and said they did nothing for two days. Enraged villagers forced shops to close, burned tires and blocked a national highway passing in the area for hours earlier this week, demanding justice.
Police eventually registered a case of rape and murder after a post-mortem of the girls found that they had been sexually abused and brutally killed, PTI said.
One police officer has been suspended for not acting promptly, Indian Heavy Industries Minister Praful Patel, who represents Bhandara district in Parliament, said Thursday.
Cabinet Minister Manish Tewari called the killings a "very, very heinous assault" and said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was sending 1 million rupees ($18,300) to the girls' family.
The case has horrified Indians two months after they were outraged by the gang rape and killing of a young woman on a moving New Delhi bus.
The gang rape sparked nationwide protests about India's treatment of women and spurred the government to hurry through a new package of laws to protect them.
The gang rape victim and her male friend, who also was badly beaten up in the attack, were dumped naked on the roadside, and the woman died from her injuries two weeks later in a Singapore hospital. Five men are being tried on rape and murder charges in that case, while a sixth, who is underage, is in juvenile court.
A new law enacted by the government has increased the prison sentences for rape from the existing seven to 10 years to a maximum of 20 years. It also provides for the death penalty in extreme cases of rape that result in death or leave the victim in a coma.
Related:
Report: Six held over another bus gang rape
PhotoBlog: India considers tougher punishment for sex crimes
Video: Father of rape victim recalls daughter's tears
Leave a Comment:
a large dog trained to attack issued to each woman???
For people that pray 10 times a day and bless their houses with cow`s and such humanity and compashion for one another seems to be out of reach. Maybe it has been breed out of them. Once you hit a billion or so people maybe the gene pool is running way to low.
The previous story 2 months ago was bad enough but to do this to three girls under 12 is so disgusting that the perps when found should only get a quick trial followed by execution. As for the police in India, what a bunch of sorry specimens. They couldn't find their ___— if they were holding it in their hands.
As for the posts about arming them, great idea! Not! Does any kid under 12 have any business having a gun for protection?
India is supposed to be an enlightened country but it looks like they went back in time. No point of going there for any spiritual purpose.
Don't think they ever came into the light.
I don't understand why we keep hearing about this on the news, ALL OF A SUDDEN ?!? This isn't news for India, this is just news here in the US. This is something that happens more often, worse than this too. I know because I have a close acquiaintences who tell me so. After watching Slumdog Millionaire I thought what happened in the movie (the awful parts of stealing eyes and selling it on the blackmarket, the part where the kids beg for a pimp, etc.) was just for the movies. My friends/coworkers assured me this happens a lot more than we here in the US know about. One Indian woman I know (50+ yrs old) refuses to go back to her country because of the awful things that happen over there.
Right....Arm 7,9 and 11 year olds.....I think some of you should move to India....You'd fit right in.
Why not? Not with guns, but with basic self defense training and pepper spray? At least give them some chance at making it.
Perhaps it would be a chance, but a grownup can usually overpower a child, no matter what.
Perhaps men should start taking responsibility for what their gender does, and start policing themselves. Stop making comments derogatory to women, stop laughing at a rape joke, stop letting the guys you are with think it's ok to say those things. It starts with you standing up for the women in your life. Men need to be involved in this too.
Well said!
red4bluez - there are a lot more stand-up guys in this world than not and to think that any one individual should take responsibility for what someone in another state, country, whatever does is ridiculous.
Guess what - both sexes make derogatory comments and rude jokes...if you thinks it's just men, you either don't get out much or hang out in a very small group of people. If you think most of us can't understand the difference between making a joke and actually performing an act, then there's not much that can be explained to you.
I feel no more responsibility for what this/these depraved individual(s) have done than you should.
I have on occasion heard naive, may be hateful women even say that they believe rape is the victim's fault!
India has degenerated into a corrupt, lawless bastion for young men raping children with impunity. The only intelligent Indians have moved to the U.S.. The rest are drooling Neanderthals.
Anyone want to bet the perps will try to claim these children "asked for it"? May they get what they deserve.
Would like to hear from the alleged rapists first. The alleged victims might have consented. Need to know their complete sexual history as well. There are two sides to every story.
7, 9, & 11 year olds are far below the age of consent. I hope you're being sarcastic. If not, please get professional help. Now! Right now!
Joe, that was one F---ed up post..This story is bad...The one about the couple on the train was the worst I ever read...God , please bless India people and straighten this out...Unbelieveable..This truly hurts...
I am sure these kids asked to be raped, killed and thrown in the village well. I don't understand how these men do this, don't they have sisters, daughters and mothers?
Like a child doesn't know the difference between "yes" and "no"? Have you ever asked a child if they want a cookie? And then asked if they want to go to bed? They know the difference. I'm just saying things aren't always how they appear at first glance.
Sarcasm has its place and this is not it. 3 innocent CHILDREN lost their lives in the most savage and brutal way. What if it was your daughter/child/friend? You are the type of person who has no value to this world and your retaliation is in trolling and tearing people down around you. You are not much different from the scum discussed here.
Joe,
Turn yourself into the authorities before you hurt some poor kid.
Joe - the "alleged" victims are dead so you're going to on the word of some heinous idiots and discuss consent. What is wrong with you? I'm sure the alleged rapists will come back and say, "yep they wanted to. even as we were killing them, they were on board with it". Gotta ask again, what is wrong with you?
Joe, do us all a favor and kill yourself, thanks...
Joe:
Are you kidding? Of course most children know yes from no. Most kids learn that when they first learn how to talk. However, when you ask a kid if they want a cookie, they'll most likely say yes because they've had cookies before and know what it's like.
What child of 7 years old knows what sex entails and consent to it? Are you actually suggesting that a child can make this decision?
No child can make that decision without being educated first. That's why we have age of consent in the US. Adults know better, children do not. No adult should even ask a child that question. And for you to even try to excuse someone who did this makes me sick to my stomach.
Joe-
Words cannot describe how pathetic you are. I've read your degrading and ridiculous comments on other articles before...you are a disgrace and should be ashamed of yourself; if you don't have any children already you should really consider never breeding.
Joe, get yourself some mental help...NOW!!
Some of you people are way too easy.
And being a callous, insensitive person on the internet is hard.
Joe Scatone you are the winner of the 'you are definitely short of a six-pack' contest for the week.
I know FIRST hand how Indian 'men' treat women..I had been friends online for years with someone from there....and he's a psychologist, so he wanted to come to Canada to work.....and my BF and I thought.."OK, he can stay with us until he get's on his feet!" Within a few months, he had not ONE but TWO jobs, and another on the side...and the 'two' job's he had, ended up paying him $90 an HOUR...whereas in India he got $350 a MONTH from working for the GOV. at that.
He was TOO cheap to buy food...all he ate was white rice....but he had that 40 ouncer of Vodka every week...he did sweet F#%$K all to help out....his 'friend's would drop by and insult us by hanging over in a corner of our LR or Den and either whispering, OR talking in their 'jibber jabbber' even though they ALL knew English....one even asked WHY I was with my BF? Because he has white hair and a white beard? FFS, MY Dad's hair turned SNOW WHITE in his 20's! lol
BUT, the kicker came when he started criticizing Canada...and I started to get pissed, so I'd lay into him....and THEN? He started 'hitting' on me, expecting me to SLEEP with him...even though HE was married...albeit an arranged marriage but married just the same, and "I" was in a relationship, with a man HE had become 'friends' with, AND whose house he was living in, so I had to go and tell my BF that HE had to go....not my BF, but AHOLE!
His sorry ass was out MY door pretty quick, I guarantee you...and they wrap their own women in SHROUDS and strip US naked with their eyes, ogling us....which gives ME the urge to kick their GD hypocritical FACES in!
Yeah, they're PIGS!
Generalize much--based on one experience?? (with one individual)
sarcasm
This is ridiculous! Who the hell are these people to hurt little children.
Only inbred, uneducated savages would do such a thing. May all that did this horrible crime against
children have this comes back on you & your mothers, sisters, wife’s & children. What comes around goes
around!!!!!
And this happening to these dear children? Doesn't surprise me ONE bit....because women are CATTLE there....and unless other countries in the world refuse to trade with them, etc...it is NOT going to stop! It's a miracle that it doesn't happen MORE often!
I don't understand, Lucy. Sanctions against the country, would be sanctions against all of the inhabitants, which include the women and children. Or do you not see the women and children as part of the country's inhabitants?
Strange country....worshp cows, mice....vow not to harm any life...but .....human life....jejejejejeje
US "values" exported in return for H1B visas. America's cultural sickness is reflected everywhere we touch. At least India is still civilized enough to have a death penalty for these animals. In the USA, we'd celebrate them in movies and books.
You're saying this is the fault of the U.S. and it's cultural sickness? Can you explain how you come to that conclusion? Also, name one rapist/murderer who is celebrated in the U.S., I can't think of one.
I.E., U.S. and European values, I know what you mean but it will be years before it is generally recognized.
Bum - there's a good name for you - nice time and place to troll on about abusing women. What a twit! Hope you don't have daughters and if you do, hope nothing happens to them. What a POS.
Where do all these cowards in crime keep coming from?
That India calls itself a democracy should enrage those of us who live in real democracies.
Where do you live? America is a republic and we have similar or worse acts everyday.
What's the difference between a republic and a democracy. Our country was formed as a republic and our government is a democracy, right?
In a republic we only get to elect Representatives. We are not generally allowed to directly vote for anything. If your Representative fails to represent you, that's too bad, you can pick another one in 2-4 years. The suck part of it is you still only get to choose between the two people "the parties" give you.
Some now describe the U.S. as a corporate oligarchy.
India treats dogs better than females.
India will always remain 5000 years ago in some fashion.
Didn't these girls have fathers, grandfathers, uncles. some caring responsible adult male to protect them? Obviously not.
Someone I knew from another country told me that if there was evidence that a child had been molested the men in the family went and visited the perp and sent them away ... permanently. Of course that presumes that there are MEN in the family, seems like there were none for these little girls. Tragic.
This is obviously a prevalent problem in INDIA, a society divided by classes, and religious sects and a society run by Patriacal system. I suspect it won't stop soon enough before we all realize the next door neighbor is the rapist and killer. Their entire police system is also backward and not keeping with the times, fire and hire new recruits with new sensitivity training enforced by the govt and backed by the community. Put out rewards, and post pics of criminals and deviants within the neighborhood. Bring awareness and most importantly, learn to respect the rights of women for crying out loud!! They are a very advance country but unfortunately govern by a old system.
Here's a thought... Instead of movies exhorting the exploits of comic-book heroes fighting against cosmic villains why not have movies where the heroes track down and bring to justice the POS that commit these horrific crimes. Until politicians and law enforcement officials in India (or anywhere for that matter) take crimes against women as seriously as they do crimes of violence done to men, nothing will change.
Interesting thought. You're saying there should be MORE crime dramas on TV? It's got to be about the most popular genre on TV. (CSI, Law and Order, Criminal Minds, Blue Bloods, Castle etc...dozens of them).
Reminds me of a discussion in Problems of Democracy class. I still wonder what does increasing the sentence mean if they have no suspects and the vile culprits aren't caught, and the culprits don't believe that they would be caught and brought to justice.
The poor girls. What chance did they have? The citizens' uproar should be no surprise.
This is deplorable. The inept, pathetic, police force not only did not even care to begin with, but only started trying to do something once enough people started protesting. Pathetic! They deserve all the negative attention they can get.
This is coming from a place where rats are more revered.....