The boiling anger among Delhi’s citizens against the brutal assault and gangrape of a 23-year-old para-medical student, battling for her life in Safdarjung Hospital, saw spontaneous protests break out in the city.
The scale of the assault has horrified the citizens who held candle-light vigils outside India Gate and South Block. A young father had brought his two young daughters to India Gate to express his solidarity while young Shruti from NGO Jagori, who was taking part in the demonstration, said, “Women want safety at all hours. This is the least the government can ensure.”
Earlier in the day, students protesting against CM Sheila Dikshit’s shouted slogans outside her house, insisting they did not want “a world-class city but a safe city.”
The Delhi police responded to their slogan shouting by firing water canons at them. The Delhi public is horrified that the CM has not gone personally to enquire about the health of the victim. By 11 am, the Delhi police headquarters was besieged by students from Delhi University, JNU and women’s groups demanding and end to police inaction and shoddy handling of rape cases.