Subject: Water hosing and tear gassing of crowd
Statement of Dr. Subramanian Swamy
The water cannon and tear gas use today by the UPA government against young girls and boys peacefully protesting against the recent ghastly gang rape on a Delhi bus is deplorable and is to be condemned as bankrupt and outdated method of dealing with a major social crime issue afflicting the country. Instead the President and Prime Minister ought to have gone to Vijay Chowk and India Gate area and addressed the crowds and explained what they will do to end the galloping rape menace. But this Goverment responds only to criticism of the foreign press but not the woes of Indian civil society.
Subramanian swamy
Police resort to tear gas, lathicharge on gang-rape protesters
By IANS - NEW DELHI 22nd December 2012 10:56 AM
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Day 5: Rage against rapists reaches Rashtrapati BhavanEnd the shame: Women shout slogans outside the India Gate during a protest in New Delhi on Friday | AP
Police fired tear gas shells and resorted to lathicharge Saturday to disperse thousands of people who had gathered at Raisina Hill here to protest against the gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman in a bus six days ago.
But the government said it was already acting on the protesters' demands and appealed for calm.
Some of the protesters, who were injured in the police action, were taken to a hospital.
Police first used water canons to disperse the crowd but as the protesters did not budge, they used tear gas shells and wielded sticks.
Policemen were seen chasing people, many of them students. Some protesters resorted to stone-pelting too.
As the people reassembled, police again used water cannons to disperse them.
Apart from Raisina Hill, protesters had converged at India Gate too.
Minister of State for Home R.P.N. Singh said police had been asked to exercise maximum restraint and the government was acting on people's demands.
The minister told a news channel that police could not allow people to break barricades and enter government buildings.
Calling for calm, he said there was no police action at places where protesters were peaceful.
Some people, he said, were trying to make it an unruly mob.
"I'm not justifying use of tear gas," R.P.N. Singh said but added that there were attempts to break barricades in the sensitive area close to the president's house and other key government offices.
"Government is hearing them (the protesters) loud and clear," he said.
Police would seek maximum punishment for the guilty in the gang-rape case and strict steps were being taken to ensure safety of women, he added.
Police have arrested all the six accused in the case.
The rape victim is currently battling for her life in a hospital here.
R.P.N. Singh said the government was willing to talk to the people but the protest should be orderly.
But the protesters, which included school students, lambasted police action and said they would stay put.
"We were protesting in a peaceful manner. They started beating us. Is this democracy? We are just demanding a strong law," Ritika, a college student, said.
"We are not afraid of police action. We'll come here daily till we get justice," said Ruchi, another student.
"Why tear gas shells; why lathicharge; why water cannons? We are students, not terrorists. Why so much police here; why don't they stand on the road to stop crime?" she added.
Protestors were carrying posters and banners.
"My tight top, high heels are not an invitation," read one poster.
Another read: "Law of zero tolerance for rapists."
The protesters started arriving at India Gate since early morning and were joined by former army chief Gen. V.K. Singh.
They then began marching towards the high-security Rashtrapati Bhavan on Raisina Hill but were stopped by security personnel, who had put up barricades.
Outrage has been swelling across the country after the woman was tortured and subjected to brutal gang-rape in a moving private bus Dec 16 in Delhi while she and a male friend were going home after watching a film.
http://newindianexpress.com/nation/article1390138.ece
Delhi gang rape: Cops lathi-charge protesters outside Raisina Hill
December 22, 2012
VIDEO
New Delhi, Dec 22 (ANI): The Delhi police today lathi charged on angry protesters and arrested a few of them, after they turned violent while marching through Rajpath towards Raisina Hills where Rashtrapati Bhavan, Prime Minister’s Office and home ministry are located. The police also fired tear gas shells and water cannons after some protestors reportedly pelted stones at police and tried to break the police barricades. The young students broke security cordons erected on Rajpath and managed to reach near Raisina Hills where they were stopped.
http://www.niticentral.com/2012/12/delhi-gang-rape-cops-lathi-charge-protesters-outside-raisina-hills.html
Tarun Vijay returns security cover to Home Ministry in support of people at India Gate-full text of letter
Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde ji
The Home Minister
Govt of India
North Block, New Delhi
22 December 2012
Dear Sir,
At a time when the entire nation, led by brave Delhi people are protesting at India Gate demanding more security for the citizens and praying for the recovery of the unfortunate girl who fell victim to the animals in human form, it will be unbecoming of me if I continue to have the security cover provided by you in the wake of the death threats I had received from the terrorist organization Indian Mujahideen.
I hereby request you to kindly take back the security cover and provide more security and protection to the common citizens who need it more than us. Today instead of using water cannon and lathi charge on the protesting people, it would have been more appropriate if leaders like you too had sat with them and added government’s voice with the peoples’ anguish committing to end the criminal assaults on the citizens. That would have added to the glory and the integrity of the State power. But your government has used violence against the honest and unprotected people.
I am thankful to those dedicated police jawans who had provided me protection all these years.
Even if I die at the hands of the terrorist in the absence of a security cover, I shall still be without any regrets, as the people on the street, who are our real masters, need this protection more than any politician.
With thanks and regards
Sincerely yours
Tarun Vijay
Posted by Tarun Vijay at 12:37 AM
http://tarun-vijay.blogspot.in/2012/12/tarun-vijay-returne-security-cover-to.html
2 Print email
Tags: Raisina Hill, justice for rape victim, gang rape protest, rape capital, Delhi gang-rape, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Protest, rape, Delhi Police, Delhi rape
Delhi gang rape: Cops lathi-charge protesters outside Raisina Hill
4.08pm: BJP women’s wing vice-president Meenakshi Lekhi, who has been at Raisina Hill from the morning, said: “They want someone in authoritiy to listen to them, do something for the law and order and change the law to deter the criminals. The awareness level has risen lately with the advent of television channels and the internet. That is the reason there has been such a huge turnout at this agitation.
“The Government is for the people… it has to listen to the people.”
4.04pm: Senior BJP leader L K Advani spoke to PM Manmohan Singh on Saturday afternoon, asking him to prevent police from using force on students and young protesters.
3.57pm: No one has come forward so far to submit any memorandum. Protesters still angry on the fact that no action has been taken against rapists. Instead of doing so, the police have water cannoned, lathi-charged and lobbed tear gas shells at peaceful, unorganised and unrepresented protesters at Raisina Hill.
3.44pm: A police officer addresses the protesters, asks them to maintain peace amid massive uproar of ‘We Want Justice’ from the crowd. They have asked a representative to come forward and submit a memorandum for the authorities to take over the matter. However, that may be difficult, given the fact that this is an unorganised, spontaneous protest, where people, mostly young, have come together to demand justice for the girl, stricter law to deter rape in the country, speedy and capital punishment for the Delhi bus rapists and safer environment for women in India.
3.36pm: “We don’t want reservation. We want justice for the girl. We want safety for all women in India,” said another young protester at Raisina Hill, a location where not more than three people can gather at one time.
Also follow live updates of the protests across Delhi on the NitiCentral Twitter feed.
3.35pm: There is a lot of anger among people. After witnessing what happened I don’t feel safe to go out….where is justice for the girl fighting for her life, when the men who raped her are happily sitting and earting and drinking?, said a college-going girl.
3.30pm: A Government announcement expected shortly, while people rush back to Raisina Hill.
3.32pm: Some people rushinh away from Raisina Hill after last tear gas shelling. Water cannons seem to be ready to spurt water on the crowd once again.
3.23pm: The protesters demand amendment of Section 376 (2) (g) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, that states that ‘Whoever commits rape shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may be for life or for a term which may extend to 10 years and shall also be liable to fine unless the woman raped is his own wife and is not under twelve years of age, in which case, he shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years or with fine or with both:
3.19pm: Black Dot movement spreads to social networking sites as protests rise in the Capital. The movement is about ‘Zero Tolerance’ against violence and crimes against women, particularly rape. Vijay Chowk leading to the India Gate blocked due to protests.
3.18pm: Home Minister Shinde not to attend IB function. Will meet PM. Government deciding on medium to talk with protesters: Sources
3.18pm: Fresh round of tear gas did not deter the protesters. Chorus of ‘We want Justice’ continued. “The Government need to amend the rules to deter rapists from raping again,” a protester said.
3.15pm: India sees the first-ever truly spontaneous agitation where youngsters have come out on to the streets and reached the crucial locations of the national capital to voice their protest against crime against women. TV reports said unlike the Anna Hazare protest, this is possibly the most spontaneous agitaitons.
3.12pm: The system does not work. We want the system to work and give the girl justice, said a young boy, possibly a college-goer. People coming back to Raisina Hill. One girl close to the tear gas shelling was badly hurt and is being taken to hospital.
3.11pm: Protesters still seek harsher penalty. They want capital punishment for the rapists so that this would be the last one to take place in the country.
3.08pm: Some people are badly injured by tear gas shelling. TV reports show thousands have gathered at Raisina Hill. One person hurt in the foot, while another was bleeding from the forehead.
3.05pm: After a lull of close to two hours, fresh tear gas shelling and lathi-charge taking place. TV reports say it is the sixth round of tear gas shells have been lobbed. A man was badly injured. He is bleeding profusely.
2.56pm: Chorus of ‘Delhi Police haye haye, Sheila Dikshit haye haye’ continues as thousands throng the India Gate demanding capital punishment for the rapists and ‘women’s right to live’ in India.
2.55 pm: If the Government can’t protect us, it doesn’t have the right to remain in power.
2.50 pm: “You travel with Z Plus security, we don’t,” a protester addresses the VIPs of Delhi.
2.50pm: “We are not going to compromise with nothing less than death sentence. It’s the only possible way of safeguarding public faith in the judiciary. Let the rapists be hanged in public at India Gate so that entire nation watches it,” said a male protester.
2.45 pm: Protesters say nothing short of a death penalty for the rapists would suffice.
2.40 pm: Protesters ask why each VIPs has two cops for security when the people have so few.
2.35 pm: “We are all brothers and sisters,” says one protester and adds, “We are here for that sister of ours who is fighting death.”
2.30 pm: The Government should act and act first, says a protester.
2.25pm: Protesters say “her justice is my justice” and “it could have happened to anyone”. They ask what authorities are waiting for.
2:24 pm: RPN Singh appeals to protesters to maintain peace, their demands have already been heard.
2.22pm: One placard held up by a protester reads “2012 not the end of the world. It is the end of humanity.”
2.12pm: “Who will guarantee our safety of the women in the city?” asks a 15-year-old girl.
2.12pm: “It’s sad that the Government is protecting the culprit and using force against those demanding justice?” asks a young girl.
2.02pm: “The law and order has failed in the country, the Home Minister must resign,” said one of the protesters.
2.01pm: The crowd has increased since morning. A larger crowd turned up from adjacent NCR, after the news of force being used against the protesters was telecast on TV news channels.
1.59pm: People carry effigies, mashals and placards and march towards the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
1.58pm: Tear gas shelling has been stopped. No water cannons have been used for the past almost an hour.
1.57pm: Protesters take out a black-dot movement in Delhi. Students wear black clothes in protest against Delhi Police and the Government.
1.57pm: Men need to know that this is going to be the reaction everytime such a thing happens. They need to be scared, said another protester in the midst of slogans of ‘we want justice’.
1.56pm: Instead of turning on us, show your anger and ours on the rapists. We want capital punishment for the rapists, said a protester.
1.52pm: Young students, college-goers, their parents and women in general throng Raisina Hill area. Protesters pushed back a few times but the protesters keep coming back, every time in larger numbers.
1.46pm: “I don’t want to be raped if I am out. I just want a safe and fearless surrounding, where ever I go and whereever I live,” said an 18-year old girl at Raisina Hill.
1.41pm: “It is ridiculous to allow such people to live. We only want these people killed. No point in the keeping them alive and water cannoning us,” said a young boy.
Also follow live updates of the protests across Delhi on the NitiCentral Twitter feed.
1.39pm: “I condemn the Government. They don’t deserve to hold power if the women in the country are not safe,” said an old man at Raisina Hill.
1.39pm: “Why can’t we castrate them, why can’t we kill the rapists? If Bhagat Singh was hanged for killing British, why can’t we do the same to these rapists?” said a young protester.
1.37pm: “This is the plight of women in India, I am related to the poor girl, but I stand here for justice. The rapists must be kept alive and must be not only hanged, but also by the victim’s hands,” says an emotional woman protester.
1.33pm: We are just demanding justice and not burning buses or damaging public property, said another protester. Parents are accompanying their kids to stage protest at Raisina Hills.
1.32pm: That girl is lying in the hospital with no intestines… it is easy for the home minister to tell us to return. We are not allowed to protest? We are protesting peacefully, a protester said.
1.27pm: The police action has actually provoked the protesters to flare up and rise in number.
1.26pm: Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde may appeal to protesters to maintain peace, sources said. A high level meet is taking place at the MHA.
1.25pm: Nearly, 60 – 70 tear gas shells have been fired so far, claim protesters.
1.24pm: Protesters say, such police action will only provoke the crowd and raise aggression among the protesters. Police should stop using force.
1.21pm: Everyone, mostly youngsters and college-goers, refuse to leave. No one called the protest rally, but the unorganised crowd refuse to let go until the accused get capital punishment.
1.20pm: Slogans of “Delhi Police Haye Haye!”, “Sheela Dikshit Haye Haye!” and “We want Justice!” continued.
1.14pm: In spite of third round of water cannons and tear gas shells being lobbed, the protesters have been pushed back but no one has left the location.
“We are not moving. Hang them, hang them. Delhi Police is useless,” protesters shouted in unison.
1.11pm: “Mothers, children and young children are becoming insecure. Police have to be sensitive towards the protesters who are demanding women’s safety in Capital. The way the police are handling the protesters is not right. The BJP condemns the police action. They are our children. Don’t do it,” said BJP general secretary Ravi Shankar Prasad.
1.10pm: Govt appeals to protesters to maintain peace as their request has already been heard.
1.06pm: Doctors at Safdurjung Hospital attending the girl say her WBC count has increased to 2,600, platelet count decreased to 26,000, while her bilirubin level has risen to 5.5. The victim is responding well to the treatment, they say. Her health is improving. She is psychologically composed. Risk from infection still exists, but otherwise she is much better. We are infusing platelets into her blood stream, a doctor said.
1.01pm: A protester mentioned newly-elected Himachal MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary, who is wanted by Panchkula Police for the murder of a young girl, Jyoti. The girl, a native of Hoshiarpur, was found dead in Panchkula on November 22. The post mortem report says she died of head injuries. It also revealed that she had had an abortion recently. police said her cell phone details led them to the MLA.
1:00pm: Three rounds of water cannons fired so far.
12:58 pm: Rapid Action Force called in to disperse the unrelenting protesters. “We are not moving away. We will stay put until the girl gets justice,” said a protester.
12.56pm: TV reports show protesters yelling and narrate how about about 25 youths have been injured and rushed to hospital after being fired tear gas and water cannons.
12.51pm:Students refuse to relent. Police fire tear gas shells at protesters to disperse protesters. Water cannons continue. Angry students run helter skelter.
*********
Shouts of “We want Justice. We want Justice” echoed the streets of the national capital, seeking justice for the 23-year-old paramedical student who was gangraped on a moving bus in New Delhi late on Sunday evening. Police took to lathi-charging, lobbing tear gas shells and using water cannons to disperse the hundreds of protesters gathered outside Rashtrapati Bhavan, as demonstrations entered its sixth day on Saturday.
Braving police action, the protesters refused to let go until capital punishment was meted out to the accused.
A thousand or more youths gathered at India Gate in the morning and marched through Rajpath towards Raisina Hill, where Rashtrapati Bhavan, Prime Minister’s Office and Home Ministry are located.
A boy and a girl and a traffic policeman were injured as the police directed water jets and opened a volley of teargas shells that pushed them back a little even as some of the protesters braved the chill and waterbottles and shoes at the policemen.
Window panes of a police van were smashed. One of the girls broke the glass window of a bus with her hands. The young students broke security cordons erected on Rajpath and managed to reach near Raisina Hills where they were stopped.
The police action came as ‘negotiations’ failed at the Raisina Hill leading to Rashtrapati Bhawan failed and the protesters, comprising largely young women and men, tried to breach the barricades to push towards the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
The protest spot resembled a battle zone with empty shells and wet roads. The area has been cordoned off and police reinforcements have been rushed to the Hill that divides the North and South Block, which houses the Prime Minister’s Office.
Girl protesters alleged that policemen hit them with lathis and declared they will launch a sit-in in the area. Protests refused to disperse from the place.
On Friday, the capital also saw protesters march towards Rashtrapati Bhavan.
“You see this problem is because of systemic failure of governance. Police reforms have been lying in cold storage for the last so many years. Why haven’t they done anything about it? Why do we have to hear such things from a Police Commissioner saying that he doesn’t have manpower? It is shameful,” Singh said.
“Why do you have to see the spectacle on television where Ministry of Home officials have to go out on the streets checking things? Isn’t there a failure? This needs to be addressed. This failure comes because of political and bureaucratic apathy in this country,” the former Army chief said.
(With PTI inputs)
Comments (2)
navenduReply
December 22, 2012 at 1:54 pm
Fuck the delhi police….and mrs.dikshit ur rule is over dis tym and be ready to travel in delhi buses u will get to know how dangerous and painful is dat….moreover I salute to every indian whoz peacfully protesting all over,very much thanks to the media-have done a nice job….
But I m concerned abt who will look after the girl now,wat will be her future….whos responsibilty will be …the delhi government,the parents of accused???? and wat necessary actions are going to be taken in order to prevent such shocking incidents..Dont give it a political name we the youth know our rights..dnt examine our patience….
Navendu SinghReply
December 22, 2012 at 1:56 pm
we will protest until and unless the rapists are hanged to death….
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4.08pm: BJP women’s wing vice-president Meenakshi Lekhi, who has been at Raisina Hill from the morning, said: “They want someone in authoritiy to listen to them, do something for the law and order and change the law to deter the criminals. The awareness level has risen lately with the advent of television channels and the internet. That is the reason there has been such a huge turnout at this agitation.
“The Government is for the people… it has to listen to the people.”
4.04pm: Senior BJP leader L K Advani spoke to PM Manmohan Singh on Saturday afternoon, asking him to prevent police from using force on students and young protesters.
3.57pm: No one has come forward so far to submit any memorandum. Protesters still angry on the fact that no action has been taken against rapists. Instead of doing so, the police have water cannoned, lathi-charged and lobbed tear gas shells at peaceful, unorganised and unrepresented protesters at Raisina Hill.
3.44pm: A police officer addresses the protesters, asks them to maintain peace amid massive uproar of ‘We Want Justice’ from the crowd. They have asked a representative to come forward and submit a memorandum for the authorities to take over the matter. However, that may be difficult, given the fact that this is an unorganised, spontaneous protest, where people, mostly young, have come together to demand justice for the girl, stricter law to deter rape in the country, speedy and capital punishment for the Delhi bus rapists and safer environment for women in India.
3.36pm: “We don’t want reservation. We want justice for the girl. We want safety for all women in India,” said another young protester at Raisina Hill, a location where not more than three people can gather at one time.
Also follow live updates of the protests across Delhi on the NitiCentral Twitter feed.
3.35pm: There is a lot of anger among people. After witnessing what happened I don’t feel safe to go out….where is justice for the girl fighting for her life, when the men who raped her are happily sitting and earting and drinking?, said a college-going girl.
3.30pm: A Government announcement expected shortly, while people rush back to Raisina Hill.
3.32pm: Some people rushinh away from Raisina Hill after last tear gas shelling. Water cannons seem to be ready to spurt water on the crowd once again.
3.23pm: The protesters demand amendment of Section 376 (2) (g) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, that states that ‘Whoever commits rape shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may be for life or for a term which may extend to 10 years and shall also be liable to fine unless the woman raped is his own wife and is not under twelve years of age, in which case, he shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years or with fine or with both:
3.19pm: Black Dot movement spreads to social networking sites as protests rise in the Capital. The movement is about ‘Zero Tolerance’ against violence and crimes against women, particularly rape. Vijay Chowk leading to the India Gate blocked due to protests.
3.18pm: Home Minister Shinde not to attend IB function. Will meet PM. Government deciding on medium to talk with protesters: Sources
3.18pm: Fresh round of tear gas did not deter the protesters. Chorus of ‘We want Justice’ continued. “The Government need to amend the rules to deter rapists from raping again,” a protester said.
3.15pm: India sees the first-ever truly spontaneous agitation where youngsters have come out on to the streets and reached the crucial locations of the national capital to voice their protest against crime against women. TV reports said unlike the Anna Hazare protest, this is possibly the most spontaneous agitaitons.
3.12pm: The system does not work. We want the system to work and give the girl justice, said a young boy, possibly a college-goer. People coming back to Raisina Hill. One girl close to the tear gas shelling was badly hurt and is being taken to hospital.
3.11pm: Protesters still seek harsher penalty. They want capital punishment for the rapists so that this would be the last one to take place in the country.
3.08pm: Some people are badly injured by tear gas shelling. TV reports show thousands have gathered at Raisina Hill. One person hurt in the foot, while another was bleeding from the forehead.
3.05pm: After a lull of close to two hours, fresh tear gas shelling and lathi-charge taking place. TV reports say it is the sixth round of tear gas shells have been lobbed. A man was badly injured. He is bleeding profusely.
2.56pm: Chorus of ‘Delhi Police haye haye, Sheila Dikshit haye haye’ continues as thousands throng the India Gate demanding capital punishment for the rapists and ‘women’s right to live’ in India.
2.55 pm: If the Government can’t protect us, it doesn’t have the right to remain in power.
2.50 pm: “You travel with Z Plus security, we don’t,” a protester addresses the VIPs of Delhi.
2.50pm: “We are not going to compromise with nothing less than death sentence. It’s the only possible way of safeguarding public faith in the judiciary. Let the rapists be hanged in public at India Gate so that entire nation watches it,” said a male protester.
2.45 pm: Protesters say nothing short of a death penalty for the rapists would suffice.
2.40 pm: Protesters ask why each VIPs has two cops for security when the people have so few.
2.35 pm: “We are all brothers and sisters,” says one protester and adds, “We are here for that sister of ours who is fighting death.”
2.30 pm: The Government should act and act first, says a protester.
2.25pm: Protesters say “her justice is my justice” and “it could have happened to anyone”. They ask what authorities are waiting for.
2:24 pm: RPN Singh appeals to protesters to maintain peace, their demands have already been heard.
2.22pm: One placard held up by a protester reads “2012 not the end of the world. It is the end of humanity.”
2.12pm: “Who will guarantee our safety of the women in the city?” asks a 15-year-old girl.
2.12pm: “It’s sad that the Government is protecting the culprit and using force against those demanding justice?” asks a young girl.
2.02pm: “The law and order has failed in the country, the Home Minister must resign,” said one of the protesters.
2.01pm: The crowd has increased since morning. A larger crowd turned up from adjacent NCR, after the news of force being used against the protesters was telecast on TV news channels.
1.59pm: People carry effigies, mashals and placards and march towards the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
1.58pm: Tear gas shelling has been stopped. No water cannons have been used for the past almost an hour.
1.57pm: Protesters take out a black-dot movement in Delhi. Students wear black clothes in protest against Delhi Police and the Government.
1.57pm: Men need to know that this is going to be the reaction everytime such a thing happens. They need to be scared, said another protester in the midst of slogans of ‘we want justice’.
1.56pm: Instead of turning on us, show your anger and ours on the rapists. We want capital punishment for the rapists, said a protester.
1.52pm: Young students, college-goers, their parents and women in general throng Raisina Hill area. Protesters pushed back a few times but the protesters keep coming back, every time in larger numbers.
1.46pm: “I don’t want to be raped if I am out. I just want a safe and fearless surrounding, where ever I go and whereever I live,” said an 18-year old girl at Raisina Hill.
1.41pm: “It is ridiculous to allow such people to live. We only want these people killed. No point in the keeping them alive and water cannoning us,” said a young boy.
Also follow live updates of the protests across Delhi on the NitiCentral Twitter feed.
1.39pm: “I condemn the Government. They don’t deserve to hold power if the women in the country are not safe,” said an old man at Raisina Hill.
1.39pm: “Why can’t we castrate them, why can’t we kill the rapists? If Bhagat Singh was hanged for killing British, why can’t we do the same to these rapists?” said a young protester.
1.37pm: “This is the plight of women in India, I am related to the poor girl, but I stand here for justice. The rapists must be kept alive and must be not only hanged, but also by the victim’s hands,” says an emotional woman protester.
1.33pm: We are just demanding justice and not burning buses or damaging public property, said another protester. Parents are accompanying their kids to stage protest at Raisina Hills.
1.32pm: That girl is lying in the hospital with no intestines… it is easy for the home minister to tell us to return. We are not allowed to protest? We are protesting peacefully, a protester said.
1.27pm: The police action has actually provoked the protesters to flare up and rise in number.
1.26pm: Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde may appeal to protesters to maintain peace, sources said. A high level meet is taking place at the MHA.
1.25pm: Nearly, 60 – 70 tear gas shells have been fired so far, claim protesters.
1.24pm: Protesters say, such police action will only provoke the crowd and raise aggression among the protesters. Police should stop using force.
1.21pm: Everyone, mostly youngsters and college-goers, refuse to leave. No one called the protest rally, but the unorganised crowd refuse to let go until the accused get capital punishment.
1.20pm: Slogans of “Delhi Police Haye Haye!”, “Sheela Dikshit Haye Haye!” and “We want Justice!” continued.
1.14pm: In spite of third round of water cannons and tear gas shells being lobbed, the protesters have been pushed back but no one has left the location.
“We are not moving. Hang them, hang them. Delhi Police is useless,” protesters shouted in unison.
1.11pm: “Mothers, children and young children are becoming insecure. Police have to be sensitive towards the protesters who are demanding women’s safety in Capital. The way the police are handling the protesters is not right. The BJP condemns the police action. They are our children. Don’t do it,” said BJP general secretary Ravi Shankar Prasad.
1.10pm: Govt appeals to protesters to maintain peace as their request has already been heard.
1.06pm: Doctors at Safdurjung Hospital attending the girl say her WBC count has increased to 2,600, platelet count decreased to 26,000, while her bilirubin level has risen to 5.5. The victim is responding well to the treatment, they say. Her health is improving. She is psychologically composed. Risk from infection still exists, but otherwise she is much better. We are infusing platelets into her blood stream, a doctor said.
1.01pm: A protester mentioned newly-elected Himachal MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary, who is wanted by Panchkula Police for the murder of a young girl, Jyoti. The girl, a native of Hoshiarpur, was found dead in Panchkula on November 22. The post mortem report says she died of head injuries. It also revealed that she had had an abortion recently. police said her cell phone details led them to the MLA.
1:00pm: Three rounds of water cannons fired so far.
12:58 pm: Rapid Action Force called in to disperse the unrelenting protesters. “We are not moving away. We will stay put until the girl gets justice,” said a protester.
12.56pm: TV reports show protesters yelling and narrate how about about 25 youths have been injured and rushed to hospital after being fired tear gas and water cannons.
12.51pm:Students refuse to relent. Police fire tear gas shells at protesters to disperse protesters. Water cannons continue. Angry students run helter skelter.
*********
Shouts of “We want Justice. We want Justice” echoed the streets of the national capital, seeking justice for the 23-year-old paramedical student who was gangraped on a moving bus in New Delhi late on Sunday evening. Police took to lathi-charging, lobbing tear gas shells and using water cannons to disperse the hundreds of protesters gathered outside Rashtrapati Bhavan, as demonstrations entered its sixth day on Saturday.
Braving police action, the protesters refused to let go until capital punishment was meted out to the accused.
A thousand or more youths gathered at India Gate in the morning and marched through Rajpath towards Raisina Hill, where Rashtrapati Bhavan, Prime Minister’s Office and Home Ministry are located.
A boy and a girl and a traffic policeman were injured as the police directed water jets and opened a volley of teargas shells that pushed them back a little even as some of the protesters braved the chill and waterbottles and shoes at the policemen.
Window panes of a police van were smashed. One of the girls broke the glass window of a bus with her hands. The young students broke security cordons erected on Rajpath and managed to reach near Raisina Hills where they were stopped.
The police action came as ‘negotiations’ failed at the Raisina Hill leading to Rashtrapati Bhawan failed and the protesters, comprising largely young women and men, tried to breach the barricades to push towards the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
The protest spot resembled a battle zone with empty shells and wet roads. The area has been cordoned off and police reinforcements have been rushed to the Hill that divides the North and South Block, which houses the Prime Minister’s Office.
Girl protesters alleged that policemen hit them with lathis and declared they will launch a sit-in in the area. Protests refused to disperse from the place.
On Friday, the capital also saw protesters march towards Rashtrapati Bhavan.
“You see this problem is because of systemic failure of governance. Police reforms have been lying in cold storage for the last so many years. Why haven’t they done anything about it? Why do we have to hear such things from a Police Commissioner saying that he doesn’t have manpower? It is shameful,” Singh said.
“Why do you have to see the spectacle on television where Ministry of Home officials have to go out on the streets checking things? Isn’t there a failure? This needs to be addressed. This failure comes because of political and bureaucratic apathy in this country,” the former Army chief said.
(With PTI inputs)
http://www.niticentral.com/2012/12/live-we-dont-want-reservation-we-want-justice.html
Delhi rape: Unprecedented protests erupt
22 Dec 2012, 1110 hrs IST, AGENCIES
Police fired teargas shells and used water cannons as several hundreds of young students on Saturday (December 22) marched towards Rashtrapati Bhavan for the second day demanding justice for the 23-year-old gangrape victim.
The youth gathered at India Gate from early in the morning and marched through Rajpath towards Raisina Hill.
The young protesters broke security cordons erected on Rajpath and managed to reach near Raisina Hill where they were stopped.
A boy and a girl and a traffic policeman were injured as the police directed water jets and opened a volley of teargas shells that pushed them back a little even as some of the protesters braved the chill and waterbottles and shoes at the policemen.
Window panes of a police van were smashed. One of the girls broke the glass window of a bus with her hands.
The police action came as 'negotiations' failed at the Raisina Hill leading to Rashtrapati Bhawan failed and the
protesters, comprising largely young women and men, tried to breach the barricades to push towards the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
The protest spot resembled a battle zone with empty shells and wet roads. The area has been cordoned off and
police reinforcements have been rushed to the Hill that divides the North and South Block, which houses the Prime Minister's Office.
Girl protesters alleged that policemen hit them with lathis and declared they will launch a sit-in in the area.
Protests refused to disperse from the place. An injured girl has been rushed to hospital.
As protests continued for the sixth day, former Army Chief V K Singh joined the demonstrators the at India Gate
blaming "systemic collapse" for brutal rape of a young girl last Sunday in a moving bus.
Yesterday too, the capital also several protests including the one in front of Rashtrapati Bhawan.
The former army chief said "You see this problem is because of systemic failure of governance. Police reforms have been lying in cold storage for the last so many years. Why haven't they done anything about it? Why do we have to hear such things from a police commissioner saying that he doesn't have man-power? It is shameful. Why do you have to see the spectacle on television where Ministry of Home officials have to go out on the streets
checking things? Isn't there a failure? This needs to be addressed. This failure comes because of political and
bureaucratic apathy in this country," the former Army chief said.
http://www.timesnow.tv/Delhi-rape-Unprecedented-protests-erupt/articleshow/4417298.cms
Video of water-hosing of protesters
Police fired teargas shells and used water cannons as several hundreds of young students on Saturday marched towards Rashtrapati Bhavan for the second day demanding justice for the 23-year-old gang-rape victim.
A boy and a girl and a traffic policeman were injured as the police directed water jets and opened a volley of teargas shells that pushed them back a little even as some of the protesters braved the chill and waterbottles and shoes at the policemen.
Window panes of a police van were smashed. One of the girls broke the glass window of a bus with her hands.
The police action came as 'negotiations' failed at the Raisina Hill leading to Rashtrapati Bhawan failed and the protesters, comprising largely young women and men, tried to breach the barricades to push towards the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-delhi-gang-rape-teargas-water-cannons-rain-on-protesters/20121222.htm
16:41 All gangrape accused arrested, says Delhi Police:
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Delhi South) Chaya Sharma is presently briefing the media on the latest developments in the bus gangrape case.
The police says that all the accused in the case have been arrested.
16:21 Ensure sense of security in Delhi: PM to Shinde:
JUST IN: Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on gang-rape issue.
PM has asked Shinde to ensure that there is sense of security in Delhi and all steps are taken to see there is no recurrence of such incidents, sources said.
http://news.rediff.com/commentary/2012/dec/22/liveupdates.htm