Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has said that Government will take immediate steps to amend Criminal Law for more stringent punishment in rarest of rare cases of sexual assault likem the Delhi rape case.

Brifing the media in New Delhi, he said a Commission of inquiry will review the shocking crime and response of the police in the gang rape incident which took place in Delhi last Sunday.

The Minister also appealed to the people to remain calm and said the Government is looking into the matter very seriously.

Earlier, Mr. Shinde met the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and briefed him about the situation following the rape incident. Dr. Singh directed the Home Minister to ensure a sense of security among the people in Delhi and see that such incidents do not recur.

The Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh said that orders have been passed by Delhi Police to suspend five police personnel for dereliction of duty when the incident of rape took place.

The Congress President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi told a group of protestors outside her residence shortly after midnight last night that justice will be delivered and she was with them. She spoke to protestors for about 20 minutes and assured them that action will be taken but said that she cannot fix a deadline. Earlier, in the day Mrs. Gandhi spoke to the Prime Minister asking for swift and immediate action in the gang-rape case.

The BJP has demanded convening of a special session of Parliament to discuss the need for stringent laws and severe punishment in rape incidents. Senior Party Leader Sushma Swaraj spoke to the Prime Minister for a special Session of Parliament for exemplary punishment for crimes against women. The Home Minister, however, told the media that there is no requirement of a special Session of Parliament to amend the law for enhancement of punishment.

In view of the large scale protests at India Gate and Raisina Hill area near Rashtrapati Bhawan yesterday, Delhi police has imposed Section 144 and cleared the area of protesters. Delhi Metro has closed entry and exit at seven Metro Stations till further orders. The Stations are – Central Secretariate, Patel Chowk, Udyog Bhawan, Race Cource Road, Khan Market, Barakhamba Road and Mandi House.

The Police used several rounds of tear gas and water cannons when the protestors tried to breach the police barricades to march towards Rashtrapati Bhawan yesterday. Several protestors and policemen were injured in the Ding-Dong battle that followed.