Panicked victim had asked docs u00a0at Rajawadi Hospital about the possibility

The 23-year-old American student, who was allegedly gangraped on Sunday, fears that the rapists may have infected her with HIV. Doctors at Rajawadi Hospital told this reporter that the traumatised victim, who was accompanied by fellow-Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) students, had expressed concern about getting an HIV infection.

"The window period for HIV detection is between six days to six months from the day of exposure to the virus. It is only after many tests that one can rule out an HIV infection," the doctor explained.

The victim has, in her statement to the police, stated that she has also handed the clothes she was wearing at the time of the incident to the doctors at the hospital.

The doctors, recognising the case as a medico-legal one, referred her to the police. However, the victim left the hospital after waiting for nearly two hours, when no policeman turned up.

Yesterday, the Trombay police sought the custody of the arrested accused from the 45th Metropolitan Magistrate's court in Kurla to get them examined medically at the Nagpada police hospital, and to collect the clothes they wore on the night of incident. The victim is a US national of Indian origin studying at TISS.

TISS discusses security measuresu00a0
TISS authorities met yesterday to decide on the introduction of a new rule restricting hostel students from venturing out of the institute premises late in the night.u00a0u00a0

S Parasuraman, director, TISS, said, "We keep talking to our students about enhancing security. That is the kind of discussion we had today."

Parasuraman said the victim had informed the hostel warden about her plans to meet some friends before leaving the hostel.

"It is, however, difficult for the warden to check if the girl has returned after a stipulated hour in the u00a0night. New security measures will be implemented from the new academic year, which begins in June 2009.