NEW DELHI -- The victim of a gang-rape in New Delhi fought for
her life at a Singapore hospital Friday as officials in the Indian state
of Punjab fired and suspended police officers accused of ignoring the
rape of another woman, who then committed suicide.
Indian
authorities have been accused of belittling rape victims and refusing to
file cases against their attackers, further deterring victims - already
under societal pressure to keep the assaults quiet - from reporting the
crimes.
However, the gang-rape of the 23-year-old student on a
moving bus in the capital two weeks ago has brought new focus on police
and community attitudes toward woman in India. Demonstrators in New
Delhi have demanded stronger protections for women and stronger
punishment for rapists.
Authorities in Punjab took action Thursday
when an 18-year-old woman killed herself by drinking poison a month
after she told police she was gang-raped.
State authorities
suspended one police officer and fired two others on accusations they
delayed investigating and taking action in the case. The three accused
in the rape were only arrested Thursday night, a month after the crime
was reported.
"This is a very sensitive crime, I have taken it
very seriously," said Paramjit Singh Gill, a top police officer in the
city of Patiala.
The Press Trust of India reported that the woman
was raped Nov. 13 and reported the attack to police Nov. 27. But police
harassed the girl, asked her embarrassing questions and took no action
against the accused, PTI reported, citing police sources.
Authorities
in the eastern state of Chhattisgarh also suspended a police officer on
accusations he refused to register a rape complaint from a woman who
said she had been attacked by a driver.
Meanwhile, doctors in
Singapore said the New Delhi gang-rape victim remained in extremely
critical condition, had suffered a heart attack, a lung and abdominal
infection and "significant" brain injury.
"The patient is
currently struggling against the odds, and fighting for her life," said
Mount Elizabeth Hospital chief executive Dr. Kelvin Loh.
Police have arrested six people in connection with the attack, which left the victim with severe internal injuries.
"We
wish she recovers and comes back to us and that no time is lost in
bringing the perpetrators of such a barbaric act to justice," said Sonia
Gandhi, head of the ruling Congress Party.
Other politicians have come under fire for comments insulting the protesters and diminishing the crime.
On
Friday, Abhijit Mukherjee, a national lawmaker and the son of India's
president, apologized for calling the protesters "highly dented and
painted" women, who go from discos to demonstrations.
"I tender my unconditional apology to all the people whose sentiments got hurt," he told NDTV news.
Associated Press