Delhi rape: More protests, visitors pour in at hospital

New Delhi: Showing solidarity with the young girl who was gangraped in a moving bus, students including from Jawaharlal Nehru University poured into Safdurjung hospital, where she is battling for her life, and held a candlelight vigil. The capital witnessed series of protests during the day — in front of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s residence, India Gate and other places. [caption id=“attachment_564852” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  AFP[/caption] At Safdurjung hospital, young girls in small groups also came to express solidarity with the victim and wanted to meet her in the ICU. In the afternoon, around 150 medical aspirants with black cloth tied on their mouths held a protest outside the hospital demanding justice for the victim and stringent punishment for the accused involved in the incident. In the evening, around 250 students from JNU held a candlelight vigil outside the hospital. After a brief march, they sat in front of the hospital holding candles and placards. They alleged inaction by government in dealing with those who commit heinous crimes like rapes and claimed that there was very less conviction of such people. Earlier in the day, JNU students also staged a protest near Dikshit’s residence. At the hospital, there was a stream of visitors. In the morning hours, three girls came to visit the victim, who is currently in ICU, but they were not allow to meet her. “We don’t know the victim. We came to know about the incident from the news. We have come here to express our support for the victim. We just want her and her family members to know that we are with them,” said Srilakshmi, a second year degree student. “I personally feel that a brave girl like her doesn’t need anybody’s sympathy. We just want that the culprits should be hanged. The punishment should be so severe that any person before committing such a crime thinks at least 100 times,” said another girl. Two boys along with their female friends too came to visit the victim with ‘get well soon’ cards and flowers but they too, as per rules, were not allowed to meet the girl. “The culprits have acted in an uncivilised manner and they shouldn’t be shown any mercy. They should be punished in the similar manner so that it becomes an example,” said 24-year-old Ajay. PTI