Protests rage on as two ACPs face heat

Rape victim very critical

Even as agitations for harsher punishment for rapists continue in the national capital, condition of the 23-year-old gang rape victim deteriorated after doctors discovered internal bleeding on Monday.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he is concerned for the ‘young woman who was the victim of this heinous crime’.

The victim’s condition has deteriorated since Sunday night. “She is very critical and still not out of danger. Her condition is worrying,” said a doctor, who is attending her at Safdarjung Hospital.

Victim composed

Doctors said the victim developed a tendency for internal bleeding and now has reduced capacity for coagulation. “Her bilirubin level has decreased to 5.5 and her lycolyte — white blood cells — count is 6,000. These parameters are after supplementation of platelet,” said Dr B D Athani, medical superintendent.

“She continues to remain on ventilator. She is para sick and is running fever of 102 to 104 degrees. The victim was subjected to psychiatric counselling today (Monday). Her parents were also given counselling,” said Athani. “It was found that the victim was relatively composed and has not shown any anxiety or depression.” Doctors said sepsis is the main cause behind her deteriorating condition.

Witnessing protests and worsening condition of the victim, the Prime Minister said, “We are constantly monitoring her medical condition. Let all of us pray for her and her loved ones during this critical time.” He also said that anger is genuine but violence would serve no purpose.

Facing public outrage, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna cut short his trip to the US and returned to India. He took action against Delhi Police officials for failing to prevent the gang-rape of girl in a moving bus. He suspended two assistant commissioners, one each from traffic and police control room wings and sought explanation from two deputy commissioners of the respective wings.

The investigators also said they would file a charge sheet against the six arrested accused within a week. “The charge sheet will be filed within a week,” a senior police officer said. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit met Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Delhi High Court Chief Justice Darmar Murugesan and sought fast trial in the case.

The trail is expected to begin on January 3 next year.  Despite all these assurance and suspension, the protest continued not at India Gate but at Jantar Mantar. The entire 2.5 km stretch between India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan was barricaded for traffic movement. Even the India Gate lawns were cordoned to prevent clashes between protesters and security forces seeing Sunday’s agitation. All the arterial roads leading to the India Gate were blocked and thousands of police officials were deployed. Even media persons were banned from entering India Gate.