Indian gang-rape victim dies in hospital

The Indian gang-rape victim whose assault in New Delhi triggered nationwide protests has died, the Singapore hospital treating her said last night.

The 23-year-old medical student, who was severely beaten and raped for almost an hour and thrown out of a moving bus in New Delhi on Dec 16, was airlifted to Singapore on Dec 26 for specialist treatment.

The attack had sparked demonstrations across India, culminating last weekend in pitched battles between police and protesters outraged over the lack of safety for women in the capital.

“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.

“She had suffered from severe organ failure following serious injuries to her body and brain,” said hospital chief executive Kelvin Loh.

“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.”

A rape is reported in New Delhi on average every 18 hours, according to police figures.

In a separate incident, a 17-year-old girl who was gang-raped killed herself by swallowing poison after police pressured her to drop the case and marry one of her attackers. One police officer has been sacked and another suspended over their conduct after the assault during the Diwali festival on Nov 13.