Indian policemen keep watch outside the Deen Diyal Upadhyay hospital mortuary, after the main accused of another gang-rape case was found dead in his prison cell, in New Delhi on March 11, 2013.
The 16-year-old was assaulted first on October 26 and then again the day after by a group of more than six men near her family's home in Madhyagram town, about 25 kilometres north of Kolkata.
The second rape occurred as she was returning home after reporting the first attack at a police station.
She was then set on fire on December 23 and died in a state-run hospital late on New Year's Eve, police said.
"She gave us a dying declaration in front of the health officials that she was set on fire by two persons close to the accused when she was alone at home on December 23," local policeman Nimbala Santosh Uttamrao told AFP.
Police made their first arrests on Wednesday, two months after the initial crime, local police chief Rajiv Kumar told AFP.
"The accused tried to kill my daughter by setting her on fire to hush up their crimes," the victim's father, a migrant taxi driver from India's poorest state Bihar, told AFP.
Neither he nor the victim can be named for legal reasons.
Several hundred activists on Wednesday protested in Kolkata over the crime, which was shocking in its brutality, even after a year when sex crimes have been widely reported in India.
Rampant rape, assault and harassment of women in India was in the spotlight in the past 12 months after the fatal gang-rape of a 23-year-old student on a moving bus in New Delhi in December 2012 sparked nationwide outrage.
The parliament has since passed tougher laws to punish rapists.
Activists say rape victims in India often face severe threats and intimidation from their attackers after the assault, while police often discourage them from lodging complaints.
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@pakistani: You say "if this had happened in pak, all seculars would have come out bashing pak" Pakistan or India secular or communal every has and must come out and fight against such ghastly incidents and also treatment of women in general in this subcontinent of India. I am sure you are not keeping abreast with huge social movements going on here. The truth is that our women have been ill treated from centuries but with more media penetration such incidents are promptly reported and pursued. We are even fighting that those so called minors who can commit such a crime should not be protected under juvenile laws. Sure we will make a difference.
@ Tariq and everyone else blaming Bollywood or "showing women as commodities." PLEASE understand, the women have power over their own bodies, they have a right to do what they want. No matter what they wear or how they dance, it is their choice. Rapes will not end if a woman is in a burqa or some such. Rapes will end when people teach their sons that NO MEANS NO. And being with someone is a privilege not a right. The problem lies with the 'men are men' and 'boys will be boys' crap I see everywhere, over all cultures. Instead of blaming Bollywood or how women are gyrating provocatively, why not blame the men who believe that if a woman gyrates provocatively, it means she gives up all rights over her own body and he can do as he pleases? Ultimately that is the fundamental problem. History has some cases of very famous literature that speaks of rape of 'chaste' women because the men were so attracted to their chastity. Again, might I stress rape is about power and control and dominance (which is why it occurs as a mean of sublimation in war torn areas).
The one thing I think is very good is how the media is highlighting these cases. Maybe it will shame people enough to actually teach men self restraint and self control. After all, men are sentient being. They can learn some control is it not?
@the Skunk: "Shame on the civic society for lying down and reading the misfortunes falling on another girl. Where are the champions of Indian democracy…….the Indian media?"
So how do you think you found out about this incident if not Indian media? Indian media and Indian civil society have been very active which has emboldened families to report rate. Not just that, their movement forced the government to update outdated laws related to rape and sexual violence. This is a good thing not a bad thing.
Rape is a heinous crime and Pakistani media and civil society should also become equally active to expose this crime which it frequently is not due to the strange laws of evidence to prove rape as per Council of Islamic Ideology.
Why is this becoming a Pakistan vs. India thing? This is a heinous crime that should be condemned regardless of where it happens. Women are raped in Western college campuses and in South Asian villages --- doesn't matter where... we must protect them.
Inna Lillahe Wa Inna Ilaihe Rajeoon. Ameen. Shame on the civic society for lying down and reading the misfortunes falling on another girl. Where are the champions of Indian democracy.......the Indian media? Salams
Why people dont oopen their eyes and start bashing to other readers.They must produce some mature comments and solution anstead of criticising for nothing.Mostly Pakistani readers get emotional or personal.
@TruthPrevails: @Racistliarhindu: Cant tell what is more disgusting. The crime or comments from people like you who takes every opportunity to show others down. People like you have utter disregard to anything human. if you believe that Indians are hypocrite then how about you showing a bigger heart by not being hypocrite yourself ? It is quite disturbing that you guys can turn such a sad news to a battle of bitter words. Get a life.
@Tariq @Water Bottle: It is not de-generation of culture but freedom of speech and expression. Women have same rights as men to express their sensuality as they need. Does not mean that we take them as easily available and rape them. Certainly some media goes way beyond the boundaries of decency. But more is to be blamed to people's attitude and superiority complex of men who believes that they can get away with the crimes on women. There is far more nudity in west but I don't see people raping around. The only fit punishment for rape is castration and lifetime humiliation of the person who commits it. Even then it does not take away the pain of destroying someone's dignity, but at least it will prevent many such savages. My prayers for her and may her family get justice and strength through this difficult time.
@Takloo: @Tariq: So whats the cause for it in Pakistan?
This is not about India folks, this inhumane act must be condemned without consideration for caste, creed or country. We only hope that all women get the respect and rights they deserve, and stop being treated like mere objects of desire.
@Amr @Fakhri @Takloo mY DEAR morality brigade I have posted some links about child rapes and rapes in general which is a v common feature in Pakistan.So b4 opening ur mouth look inwards.I agree its a common problem which is due to attitude and upbringing. Moderator as always do not block my comments
http://tribune.com.pk/story/653653/14505-cases-registered-in-ry-khan-in-2013/ http://tribune.com.pk/story/652384/no-arrests-in-child-rape-case-so-far/ http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/tag/husband-wife-relationship/page/3/ http://tribune.com.pk/story/653741/success-story-how-a-news-story-won-a-gang-rape-victim-justice/
Eye opener! Hope shining indians will read the above 10 times before making any comment or pointing fingers on anyone.
@TruthPrevails: Get used to these two faced hypocrites
@TruthPrevails: @Amr: @NoWay!: @pakistani: Such hypocrites are these seculars, liberals & indians
Wow never saw such humane & non-bashing comments when similar thing happened in Pakistan! Indians were busy bashing and inciting hatred back then, such two faced people nowadays
@Fakhri: @Nikki: @ALL INDIANS/Liberals/Secularists:
You are such hypocrites, if this had happened in Pakistan you would be bashing every pakistani and the whole country. When it happened in India you say "sick people are everywhere". Your Hypocrisy is more sickening.
Another feather decorated on the cap of shining india
@ahmed: Already said that treating human as commodity is the crime. No one is excluded even Arabs.
This is not about India or Pakistan! Its about a 16 yr old girl whose life got taken away and went through the worst thing ever.
What is the world coming down to - show some respect people! seems like everyone is waiting for a reason to start bashing to one another.
Shocking brutality, this is evil beyond comprehension. My emotions are automatically frozen in shock with stories like this. It is so wicked that it is surreal.
Unfortunately our girls and women are being harrashed and raped in all over India, we are supporting a corrupt and filthy rich Diplomat who is looking more like a model than diplomat.
@Babli: The same happens in Pakistan.Both countries have immensely failed in character building of their nations.We have only nations, how the nation is who cares?
This is so disturbing. These men should be caught and executed in public. We need to put and end to this is in India and in Pakistan. This is too much, this has to end. We need to stop mocking and taunting each other and make sure that other mothers and sisters are safe and our society is free from such savages. We need to learn to respect our women.
Such a shameful act...really disutrbing and sad news from our neighbours
Rapes are becoming every day news in india just like bomb blasts in Pakistan
Bollywood started showing its real impact in indian society in last couple of years...rape cases are on high in india
This is a henious crime......be it in India or in Pakistan.......and should be seen as such.
@Tariq : Spot on brother ! @Water Bottle : The problem is protests dont tend to stop these acts. I fear that in the future feminists will demand castration of boys in future to stop violence against women !
@Tariq, in Arabs the groom pays hefty amount of money depending on the beauty of the women, so what would you about this? not being sold like a commodity??
Dirty people live every where. A rapist is a sick man who does not understand values and ethics.These things can be stopped only through edcating the generation....media can play effective role. The role of family is critical,parents should teach their childrens about good and bad.In South Asia, its common culture, people produce children and dont provide them good education,atmosphere,dont prepare them for their better future.
@pakistani:
"if this had happened in pak, all seculars would have come out bashing pak."
Well sir, while I still don't understand what has that got to do with secularism, I will tell you this, in India, people come out to streets protesting.
@Tariq:
I have to agree with you. Unfortunately Indians call such things as entertainment. They fail to understand that it is a degeneration of culture.
In a society where females are being shown as commodity and source of enjoyment then all kind of ills are bound to occur. Specially the Print and Electronic media which is exploiting females as commodity and that's is why females respect and honor become extinct in people eyes.
So disturbing!!
Becoming a sad routine in India now. Shameful!
if this had happened in pak, all seculars would have come out bashing pak.