Juvenile convict of 2012 gang rape, now 20, out of correctional home; cops detain the victim’s parents at a rally at India Gate protesting his release
Asha Devi
New Delhi: Scores of protesters, including the parents of the December 16 gang rape victim, were detained by the police after they staged a protest near India Gate yesterday, against the release of the juvenile convict in the case. The convict, now 20, was released yesterday and sent to an NGO in Delhi, said a source.
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Asha Devi being detained by Delhi police personnel from a protest rally at India Gate yesterday. Pic/PTI
The protest started around 5 pm, and within half an hour, a large number of protesters, comprising mostly students and activists, gathered at a stretch on Rajpath, blocking the road. Soon, several police teams, including women officials, were deployed to disperse the protesters, who were shouting slogans against the central and Delhi governments.
Asha Devi, the mother of the paramedic student who was gang-raped in a moving bus, had to be persuaded to get inside a police bus along with her husband, Badri Singh Pandey, and other protesters.
“How many more rapes, how many more murders will have to take place for the government to change laws related to juveniles. I want (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji to consider giving us two minutes (for a meeting),” said Asha Devi.
Referring to the release of the juvenile, she said, “Who should have been put behind bars has been allowed to walk out free, while we, who have suffered, are being chased by the police. First, we were stopped at Jantar Mantar, and then we managed to reach here (India Gate). I will not get inside the bus today,” she kept saying, while being escorted by women police officials.
Pandey, the victim’s father, said the police action was not justified and that their three-year-long battle for justice has gone in vain.
The parents, along with 40-odd protesters, had been detained on Saturday as well, after they had staged a demonstration near the north Delhi correction facility where the juvenile convict was lodged. But they were released shortly after.
The police, however, maintained that they had only removed the parents for their safety and escorted them back to their residence.
Nirbhaya's father questions Centre, Delhi government
New Delhi: Questioning the role of the Centre and Delhi government, the parents of the December 16 gang rape victim yesterday asked why the authorities had not taken action earlier to stop the release of the juvenile convict.
Nirbhaya’s father addresses the protest rally at India Gate on Sunday. Pic/PTI
Expressing unhappiness with the government for showing ‘helplessness’ on the issue of the juvenile’s release, the victim’s father said, “Our government, whether Centre or state, only listens to you when you protest and get lathi-charged, else they don’t care. However, if a proper hearing or verdict had been had on this case, then we would not have seen this day.”
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