Protesters have staged a demonstration in New Delhi as the body of the young Indian woman, who was gang-raped and severely beaten, arrived back in the Indian capital.

Clashes erupted on Sunday between demonstrators, who complained that the government has failed to protect women, and the police in the central part of the capital.

Government offices and other public areas have been sealed off in New Delhi and the riot police have set up barricades along streets leading to India Gate war memorial, which has been used as a protest hub.

The 23-year-old student died of brain injury and massive internal injuries at a hospital in Singapore on December 29 after she was sexually assaulted by six men on a bus and beaten with an iron bar on December 16 in the capital.

Her body was returned to India on Sunday at around 4:00 a.m. (2230 GMT) and was cremated during a private ceremony.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, the head of the ruling Congress party, were at the airport to soothe the family members of the victim.

“It would be a true homage to her memory if we are able to channelize these emotions and energies into a constructive course of action,” Singh had said in a statement, issued after the woman died.


The horrific nature of the crime shocked Indians, who have thronged the streets on a daily basis since the incident, demanding protection for women and capital punishment for rape, which currently carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Based on police figures, New Delhi ranks first in the rate of sex crimes among main Indian cities and an incident of rape is reported on average every 18 hours.

Six suspects, who had been arrested in connection with the attack, were charged with murder following the victim’s death. They will be given death penalty if found guilty. /SR