AFP: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday appealed for calm and vowed to protect women as police struggled to quell increasing outrage over sex crimes following the gang-rape of a student.
With much of central Delhi sealed off after a wave of violent protests, Singh said he understood the public's anger at the "monstrous crime" but added that "violence will serve no purpose".
"There is genuine and justified anger and anguish at this ghastly incident," Singh said in a televised address.
"I feel deeply sad at the turn of events leading to clashes between protesters and police forces. I assure you that we will make all possible efforts to ensure security and safety to all women in this country.
"As a father of three daughters myself, I feel as strongly as you. We will ensure justice is delivered," he added.
His pleas for calm were echoed by the victim's father.
"Please pray for my daughter and do not not resort to any violent activity. She needs your support and your prayers," the father, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the Hindi-language News 24 network.
"My daughter is fighting for her life, but she is very strong and has a strong will to live."
Protests have been taking place across India over the last week to denounce the police and government over the gang-rape of the 23-year-old student in the capital and the surge of violence against women.
Official figures show that 228,650 of the total 256,329 violent crimes recorded last year were against women, with the number of rapes in the capital rising 17 percent to 661 this year.
The biggest protests were in New Delhi on Saturday, prompting police to cordon off areas around government buildings.
However fresh clashes erupted on Sunday and police said more than 100 people were injured including 60 policemen. The clampdown was further tightened on Monday, with commuters having to make lengthy detours to get to work.
The situation has been exacerbated by extra security already planned for the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The venue for a signing ceremony and press conference with Putin and Singh has been shifted.
"No one will be allowed to march towards the parliament or the president's palace," said New Delhi police spokesman Rajan Bhagat.
"We know people will face problems because of the road blocks but we have to stop the protests. This just cannot go on."
A television journalist was shot dead in the northeastern town of Imphal on Sunday by police trying to control a protest over the attempted rape of an actress whose attacker remains at large. Five police have been suspended over the shooting, the Press Trust of India reported.
Police have said some of the Delhi protesters have been intent on causing trouble and the demonstrations have been "hijacked by hooligans".
While many of the protesters have been women carrying placards, the crowds have drawn increasing numbers of young men who have been hurling stones at security forces. They have responded with tear gas and water cannon.
The police's hardline tactics have drawn heavy criticism as has the government's response.
"Both the police and the government are clueless as to how to deal with spontaneous protests," said a front-page editorial Monday in The Times of India.
"The police have been guilty of undue use of force... The government has failed to realise that these protests are signs of the people's resolve not to remain mute spectators to administrative apathy and poor governance."
The government has been on the defensive not only over the levels of crimes against women but also over the notoriously slow criminal legal system.
Ministers have now said they will consider the death penalty for the most extreme rape cases.
The victim of the Delhi gang-rape remains in a critical condition in hospital after suffering terrible injuries during her assault on a bus, which began when she and a male companion were picked up after a night out at the cinema.
Police and prosecutors say six men, who were drunk and were joy-riding in an off-duty bus with tinted windows, took turns in raping the student before throwing her off the vehicle.
During her assault, the victim suffered serious intestinal injuries from being beaten with an iron rod.
All six alleged attackers have now been arrested and remanded in custody.
COMMENTS (18)
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@Praan: This is precisely your problem. Selective reading.. She was just responding to "Rana" regarding his unnecessary ranting about religion..
@Rana Usman
Yes friend , now we need a lecture on womans rights from the citizen of a nation where a father come with goons to rape his wife and daughter just because she did not agree to marry a man of his choice, where a Jamaat head calls for women to keep quiet about rape unless they can bring four witnesses who have witnesses who have witness the act in detail . They even claim religious sanction for this.
Sorry, we do not agree with your idea of providing rights like these to women. We would rather protest to have the guilty convicted without the four witnesses as per shariah
The protesters taking violent route is unacceptable. There is no difference between Maoist who are protesting against govt policies which displace tribals..and these neo-urban protestors..who take route of violence to express their anger.
@ Many who made comments from both sides of the border
The incident in question is terrible and must be condemned by all. Such incidents also happen in Pakistan which are as pathetic as this one, e.g. killing of Anti-Polio workers in Karachi. The thing I don't get is that even the young generation of Pak-India is so obsessed with finding each other's weak points than just saying wrong a wrong, regardless of national & religious identity. At least, we know that to a greater extent, the hatred is politically motivated by our politicians & military and not the primary interest of people. Please be respectful and friendly to each other. At least 'WISH' to make our borders a place for cooperation, friendship and progress. I know such thoughts prevail in majority on both sides.
@Praan: "@gp65: This is precisely your problem. There is a crime in India and you are so obsessed with Pakistan that you start comparing with crime in Pakistan. Come out of your caves and sort your house."
I started by saying that there are issues that need to be sorted out in India. Separately I also responded to someone who was dragging religion into this unnecessarily and showed the mirror to him. If ou notice, I also did say that India should not be complacent in this area simply because things are better than Pakistan.
I am all for strong protests, even if it turns violent. They should not back down unless the government and law enforcement agencies gives an assurance to conduct a quick and fair trial of the culprits now behind bars. The trial should be complete in not more than two weeks and exemplary punishment should be awarded. Protests should continue. If any lawyer tries to use any legal loop holes or delaying tactics, or if any political leader tries to free the culprits the protestors should target them also.
@Rana Usman: "Aah! India must do something to protect women who are raped every moment. There is a serious deficit of women rights in India as they have long history of diminishing women to earth following their dharam."
YEs women's rights in India need to improve. In particular issues like foeticide are a blot on our country. This however has nothing to do with Hinduism as you seem to imply. In our country evidence of 4 men is not required in order to convict a man for rape and a woman complaining of rape is not convicted of zina if she is unable to produce 4 men as evidence. The conviction rate for rape in India is over 30%, in Pakistan it is less than 1% and due to the nature of laws, very few people would even dare to report rape in your country.
People are coming out in the streets to protest this gang rape. Who came out in the streets to protest the death of the 5 female polio workers? Whether is is women's literacy, maternal mortality rate, women's participation in the workforce, women's ability to move freely without being escorted by men in family - India is ahead compared to Pakistan in all those areas. This is no reason for India to be complacent because there is a huge opportunity for things to get better but your reference to religion was just absurd and in poor taste.
@Wah: So why do you guys select the right people to lead.... whats the point of protest if you are going to elect the same people.... the protestors are burning cars and property... its pathetic.. the whole protest has been hijacked by unruly people with their hidden agenda.. they are not protesting for the girl... wake up and smell the cat!!!
@Wah: @David: Going by history of rapes in Dehli, when the protests have died down, people will go about their business.. This is what has happened in the past... so dont live in dillusional world... our leaders are corrupt and insensitive...
@Rana Usman: Sure, next time we will stone them or barricade them at homes. Then they will be as safe as mukhtar mai and others
Please take a break...do not involve in slanging match...
Rana sahib These protests are against brutality to the gender who gives birth to you and me I think even your Dharam won't allow this even for your so called GHAIRAT Be brave Protest in your country where these kind of cases are more often .You should learn protesting crimes against women
Our of 7 rapist.. 4 will be set free because police will not able to find any evidence.... 2 will be punished with Rs. 500/- for helping the culprit... one may be get death sentence and after spending few years in jail our president will convert his sentence to life imprisonment.. and the girl which actually get raped will not able to do anything but may accept it as will of almighty...
Singh Saheb Jago..
@Rana.. Look who is talking !! You mean to say that they should be put in Burkha !! Where is Dharam coming here !! People like you are just trolls who just waiting for an oppertunity to bring religion into everything.
Aah!
India must do something to protect women who are raped every moment. There is a serious deficit of women rights in India as they have long history of diminishing women to earth following their dharam.