The body of the 23-year-old gangrape victim was flown back to New Delhi from Singapore early this morning and cremated within hours. Her mortal remains were flown to the capital in a Special flight of Air India and after landing at the Indira Gandhi International airport, the plane was taken to technical area where the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Mrs. Sonia Gandhi were present to receive the body.
The special aircraft landed in Delhi around 3.30 a.m. Both Dr.Singh and Mrs. Gandhi spoke to the family members and consoled them.
Later, the body was taken to Mahavir Enclave residence of the girl in New Delhi and religious rituals were performed before taking it to the crematorium at Dwarka amid heavy deployment of Delhi Police and RAF personnel.
The cremation took place under a dense cover of fog. Minister of state for Home Affairs R P N Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit, West Delhi Member of Parliament Mahabal Mishra and Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta were present at the cremation.
Media was not allowed in the crematorium.
The girl, a physiotherapy student, was gangraped and brutally assaulted allegedly by six men in a moving bus in south Delhi on December 16 night.
While undergoing treatment at Safdarjung hospital in New Delhi, she was shifted to the Singapore Super Speciality hospital in an extremely critical condition for further treatment. Her internal organs were damaged in the assault and she also suffered a brain injury.
Delhi Police has stepped up security in the national capital closing India Gate and Raisina Hill for the public besides closing down 10 Metro Rail stations around India Gate till further orders. A large number of police personnel have been deployed at Rajpath and the stretch connecting India Gate and Raisina Hill.
Delhi Police have slapped murder charges against the six arrested accused in the rape case and will file the charge-sheet against them on 3rd January. Delhi Police Special Commissioner, Dharmendra Kumar said that a chargesheet will be filed under section 302 IPC on murder charges.
The President, the Vice President, Prime Minister, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and leaders of all other political parties have mourned the death of the innocent girl.
Thousands joined the candle light vigil at Jantar Mantar to pay tribute to December 16 gangrape victim in Delhi. Peaceful marches and protests were held at many places in the city to mourn the death of the victim even as India Gate and Raisina Hill were kept out of bounds for people. Ministers of Delhi Government led candle light march, prayers and condolence meetings in various parts of the city to pay homage to the victim.
They also appealed to people to maintain peace and calm, and help authorities in making Delhi a safer place, especially for women. Delhi BJP leaders also took out candle light marches throughout the city. Activists of Left parties staged a peace march from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar led by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat.
In Mumbai, the death of the gang-rape victim prompted peaceful protests with people from all walks of life joining in condolence meets and peace marches. Actress and social activist Shabana Azmi walked in a silent protest march from Juhu beach to Kaifi Azmi Park.
In the United Kingdom, a group of 50 NRIs held a candle light vigil in Central London yesterday, demanding severe punishment for the gang-rape accused. NRIs, including teachers and housewives, gathered at the Mahatma Gandhi Statue, Tavistock Square and raised slogans and held placards demanding an end to assault and rape against women.
