The cremation of the young physiotherapy gang-rape victim was a low-key affair, with the government taking control and ensuring little public participation. Security in the area was beefed up as the woman’s mortal remains were consigned to the flames at Dwarka crematorium within hours of the arrival of the body from Singapore early this morning.
Though the body reached the crematorium around 5-45 a.m. and was put on the pyre by 6 a.m., the victim’s father lit it at around 7-30 a.m. as the family members protested against the police rushing them to get the cremation done before sunrise.
The area was fortified with a large number of policemen and members of the Rapid Action Force in anti-riot gear guarding the area and keeping a close vigil. Deployment of security personnel had started on Saturday night.
The 23-year-old victim had breathed her last at a Singapore hospital on Saturday, after a 13-day battle for life following the brutal assault on her by six persons in a moving bus on December 16.
In a recognition of public outrage over the rape and death of the victim, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi were present at the Palam Technical Area of the Indira Gandhi International Airport when the body arrived by a special Air India aircraft around 3-30 a.m.
The two leaders interacted with the victim's parents who had accompanied the body.
A large number of policemen escorted the body to the victim’s residence and later to the crematorium. Several barricades were put by the police near the victim’s residence to prevent ordinary citizens from joining the mourning. The policemen asked the victim’s neighbours to stay away from her house where rituals were being performed. The restrictions continued after the body was taken to the crematorium.
The anger that has gripped the country following the incident resonated in the locality with neighbours joining the chorus demanding “strictest possible punishment” to the accused.
“When she left home the last time, little did her father know that she would return here as a corpse. It is not about a girl from our locality who has fallen prey to this barbaric act, it’s about the safety of women in general,” an emotional neighbour said.
The neighbour said his younger brother had tutored her while she was in school. “Because she was focussed, her father decided to sell his land and mortgage their house to arrange for her educational expenses.’’
Those present at the crematorium included mostly family members and relatives of the deceased. The electronic media was not present as the Broadcast Editors Association had asked news channels to refrain from covering the funeral.
Union Minister R.P.N. Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Mahabal Mishra, MP, and Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta were among those present.
Keywords: Delhi gang-rape, Rajpath protests, violence against women, death penalty, Indian criminal justice system, rape punishment, political mobilisation, Delhi protests, peace protests, gang-rape victim cremation
When she was still living ,and flown to Singapore,all have referred
as Rape victim with a name as per their choice but while she was
brought back all referred as a victim's BODY,and further steps are
taken in line with the family practice.If we look philosophically
this would happen to all when they die.but the issues continue.
"Lives of great men remind us that we make our lives sublime.
And departing .leave behind them the foot prints on the sands of
Time" Deaths of brave people remind us that we make our lives
courageous.And deparrting leave behind her,evrything on the
sands of time.
I have been reading all the comments since this incident has taken place
and feel that nobody has been able to identify the actual culprit behind
this cruel act by the 6 accused. According to me the actual culprit is
"Alcohol" which had brought out the "Demons" in the 6 accused. I hope
all my fellow citizens think along this line and help in finding a
permanent solution to this evil menace.
Is it not true that the victim was completely comatose before she was
flown to Singapore and never gained consciousness?
This question begs an answer....What purpose did all that V.I.P
presence serve ! other than the loss of private space for people who
knew this girl who till a couple of weeks back was just going about
doing what she wanted to do...fulfilling her cherished dreams. Some
lunatic brutes snuffed out her ambitions and her family is not even
allowed to give her a prayerful adieu in the few last moments on this
earth. When will symbolism translate to actions that make a difference
to the woman on the street? Or are we valuable only if our votes make
a difference to THEM ?
To Avoid further confrontation on the issue,I feel the decision to
make the funeral in a hush manner was a right decision taken by the
authorities.How long the battle would have to be permitted to
continue,when there are assurances pouring in from the govt,heeding
to every demand of the public?
Even in her death and funeral the leaders wanted to save their skin and
their political future and not provide comfort to the bereaved family.
God save us from these sick politicians and equally sick IAS, IPS, and
the entire administration. I only pray that in the next elections we
throw out the entire current ruling party and opposition parties and
bring in a new ruling and opposition. I hope God performs this miracle
for us.
"The two leaders interacted with the victim's parents who had accompanied the body". "interacted"seriously? Wonder what they told those parents. Sonia did interact with the Haryana rape victims parents and what happened?
A bereaved nation has to console itself that the unfortunate girl's body
was mercifully brought to her homeland and was allowed to be cremated in
the native soil, instead of in a crematorium in Singapore! Should we now
ask for the 'right to participation in the funeral rites by the close
relatives of the dead ones' also, along with various other fundamental
rights enshrined in the Indian constitution? What do our human rights
organizations and constitutional experts say?
Is it not time the phrase rape- victim is stopped from usage in this case
The Last Post has been sounded for the poor rape victim.We pray that her soul may rest in peace.Now it should be the duty of every Indian citizen aged above 18 years to ensure not only the utter rout and defeat of this corrupt UPA II government led by the Congress but also the sounding of the LAST POST for the CONGRESS PARTY itself at the next General Election in 2014.But we also hope that the Last Post will soon be sounded for the perpetrators of the dastrdly deed including the fellow who is trying to get out of it by claiming to be a minor.He should be the first to be executed because such youngsters will be the worst offenders later and therefore he should not be allowed to blossom.
People of India have no faith in this government and PM Manmohan Singh.It is a total failure that is why it did not allow common people to attend funeral to mourn the death and pray. Hindu right was not performed by not allowing morners to attend the funeral to pray for the victim's soul to rest in peace.That is Hindu right.
This issue can not be solved by enacting new laws but by the will of common people to rise and revolt against the corrupt politicians. The politicians use all the government machinery to harass and exploit common folks and to promote their interests by helping Goondas and Terrorists. What happened to Anna's cry? The same will happen to this unfortunate event, the politicians and movie actors will come up with crocodile tears to increase their self worth.
@Shweta Jhaveri: I understand that you are anguished and believe me that many others too including myself. But I think it is counter productive right now to politicize and blame one party of the other on the issue specially when as per Hindu Op-Ed we need the all parties specially the two major ones to push through the women's reservation bill in parliament. Because if we are start with Advani Rath Yatra in 1992 as the initial cause then someone else may say why not start with 1984 ant-Sikh riot where numerous Sikh women were raped and murdered by marauding thugs under the political cover of the then ruling party (please see the news article about Sikh groups seeking justice for the rape and murder in 1984 riot) which seem to provide more direct lineage to anti-women violence in subsequent years.
The weak government and a jittery Police were both on their back foot, hence quick disposal was the mantra.Big funeral processions,obituaries,last posts and memorials are for shady people in power.
What the Govt wanted to hide? She is the victim not a terrorist criminal like Osama. When dirty politicians get a place in Delhi why not a rape victim, who mobilized country against present lame laws? She deserved an open cremation, nothing to hide.
Such unwarranted secrecy didn't matter much when Kasab was hanged since
the entire nation was in a jubilant mood which is not true here. Was it
to avoid a possible demand for postmortem and possibly a white paper
also from the government side?
WORST GOVERNMENT. Let us all resolve to bring down this government in
memory of the brave girl.
Why couldn't they organize cremation that allowed people of all walk to participate? Sure the government is capable of handling the crowd if the did not fear people (aam aadmi apparently) of this country! They have provided support and handled high key events and deaths in the past! The way they handled the cremation, I can only be reassured that the rulers and political class of this country still aren't willing to understand and share common people's feelings and emotions.
Sheila dikshit,Shinde, Sonia and
Manmohan......pl resign as it is your retirement stage in
life .You are just a burden on the economy of India.
State controlled funeral - very sad indeed. People had every right to
attend the funeral, she had become a daughter of India in the last 2
weeks. I would have rather attend her funeral than of any crooked
politician / inept judge or of police controlled by the administration.
India has become unsafe at any speed even walking is not safe, forget
taking a ride in public transportation system.
Timid government.
The shedding of crocodile tears is too little, too late. When one is inept and has been in a slumber land as well as trying to keep warm the seat for a younger person who did not have even a word to say after the rape, it clearly demonstrates the futility of the exercise. It is only a matter of time that those in power will be of little consequence if any in 2014 if not earlier. If it was another country the old man would have resigned after taking personal responsibility for letting the 1.2 billion people down not once but perhaps innumerable times to mention here.
The family should stand up and take the state and government to court
for accountability towards enabling the dangerous times we live , for
not following regulations that allowed the bus to ply in the first
place. the government is every bit responsible as the six men.
Shame on that MLA who is demanding that family be given 25 lakhs and
her brothers be given government job -- how dare he trivialize life
and politically playing the situation.
Bottom line the central government, Delhi police and state government
need to stand trial in a court of law for failing
to protect its citizen.
The law can decide compensation , not an MLA wanting to gain political
mileage. He is truly altruistic he can set up a fund in her name to
benefit sexual assault victims. I dare any of these politicians to do
so.
I am shocked to the core... There is complete silence inside me. India
my country where I was so proud to be born, being the land of greats,
has given birth to such demonic humans whose DNA cannot at all match
the sanctity of this great mother land. How could we breed such pests.
How did we allow such pests to grow...Has our Yamuna river water and
other rivers of India got so polluted that it is now giving birth to
such creatures who are not humans at all..:-(
I am also appalled at the way this girl has been put to rest. At least
the indignity with which she was treated by these inhumans, we as
dignified human beings could have given her a honorable farewell with
gun salute as we do to our army jawans who fight a valiant battle
and die for their country. This girl was no less than any other army
man. Why was she put to rest in such darkness where the country could
not pay her the last homage or our jawans could not give her the gun
salute ???? Can someone give me an answer....
India,ever renowned for its rich culture and spiritual heritage is now
hung its head in shame.This incident-gangrape-will certainly dent its
image among the world nations and we may not be able to mend this in the
near future.
I am sad and angry. Sad because a young girl lost her life as a result of gang rape, and angry because such a brutal action took place in a land where the concept of Dharma originated. It is sickening to even think that men could do such a thing to a helpless girl against her will.
As members of civilized society, we must stop such violence against women.
I do not understand why women are mistreated in a country where the ideals of goddess were championed in religion. Scriptures extolling the greatness and virtues of the divine feminine abound, and yet respect for women is utterly lacking.
I strongly believe that respect for and appreciation of women should start in the home. Men in a home where women are mistreated or viewed as sex objects, tend to show their aggression toward other women. This is what seems to have happened two weeks ago in the capital city of India.
It was a murder, a very brutal, totally insane crime and a death sentence would be a gift to those accused. I deeply request request govt to offer those psychos as hard as they can punishment, India has ever seen.
Saddest day indeed. A year is all set to eclipse in a mood filled with agony and anguish in all patriotic Indians whose heart beats for the girl at her untimely death and in the most cruelst way. Any amount of words will not console the parents and brothers of the deceased. Sheila and Shinde - What have you got to say here? Mere presence at the cremation will not amount to dischage of your responsibilities. Your new year resolution should be to handover the proper punishment to the accused before the first anniversary of the girl's death. Stern mesures that will instill fear in all before getting committed to this type of act.
The young girl student is no more now. Men and women from all over the
country have shown their protest. Now, it is time to channelise all the
anger, hatred and protest into a meaningful and result oriented actions
in redefining the existing laws dealing with rape crimes and rapists.
The media has to play major role.
Indian govt. used the same tactics that USA used in case of OBL. Closure of Metro has become a norm during the protest against this govt. What a shame!!! No hope from this kind of leadership.
I do not expect Hindu to put in this comment as like my previous ones.
But to put the record straight the flight that brought the body of
the unfortunate rape victim from Singapore was not "AIC380A" as
mentioned but was "AIC381A" instead.
The government has been really fast in taking a decision regarding the cremation of ''Nirbhaya'' on Sunday morning.Can the government use the same skills and take immediate action against the accused? The family has the right to see their daughter's assaulters punished,so that their braveheart can rest in peace after so much of pain and suffering.Please do not make them wait!
SHE HAS BEEN BRUTALLY NIPPED IN THE BUD! Stand accused are not only
the SIX, but the SIX MILLION POLITICIANS also who claimed to be so
since 1947! Little did the foreigners molest our women. The “crocodile
tears" of these politicians conceal the party-coffers enriched by the
liquor mafias throughout India, that manage to sell their adulterated
liquor even through government outlets! And this spurious liquor makes
ignorant humans soulless ‘brutish beasts’! More than 75% percent of
the Indian crimes and accidents have their origin in LIQUOR! Make this
DEVIL an exclusive thing of the starred hotels only and see the Indian
crime -rate takes a nose-dive! But along with that will go the
present set of politicians also into oblivion! Naturally they won't
like that. Then how can it be done? THINK, THINK, THINK my INDIA! Not
passive protests, but concrete actions are the need of the hour! The
JYOTI that has been brutally extinguished in Delhi should be rekindled
in every good Indian heart! 2013 should be etched in history as the
YEAR OF THE GREAT INDIAN RENAISSANCE!? I think that will be the
greatest tribute, we Indians, her parents and siblings, can give that
pretty soul plucked in her prime despite her passionate longing for an
extended terrestrial term!
Saddest day for any Indian.However much tears are produced by politicians the situation is
alarming and is going out of control as we do not have the power to call back and punish the
guilty with firmness If this is to change and nation has to shine we should change our
election rules so that the guilty irrespective of party affiliation whether x or y or z should be
punished and put under jail People should mature into responsible citizen who will vote for
persons who stand for the country They should be able to recognize the politicians who shed
crocodile tears for the people They should learn to respect the persons who are committed
for the people I know they are extremely rare If we can get rid of criminals and corrupt ones
in in politics our country will be the strongest and most prosperous one in this world
let us not elect thieves Daccoits Antinationals and anti socials.
What a stunt Mrs Sonia and Mr Singh the authors of FDI are respnosible for the shame of the country since the entire world media as reported that the largest demorcatic country the womean are not same becuase of corruption in all spheres of life.
Ms Sheila Dixit resign if you have a grain of sympathy for the girl and her family.
Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde resign if you cannot stop this reoccurring.
Mr Kumar (Police Commissioner) resign and forfeit your retirement benefits and own up to the moral responsibility of your position.
Girls like this one get abused and die a thousand deaths daily and we the citizens of the nation are totally impotent to stop this.
The seeds of lawlessness, breaking the law of the land., were laid in broad daylight by Mr. LK Advani in Dec 1992. Subsequently he became the Home Minister of India (as a reward for his breaking the Law). Breaking the Law and Celebrating it as VIJAY DIVAS (Victory Day) !!
Mumbai Pogrom 1992 Director gets a "State Funeral". Gujarat 2002 pogrom director gets elected Thrice. "Police is with you" message trickles down to the citizenry.
How can you have Law and Order on the streets now ?
A whole generation has grown up since Advaniji's sowing hate-seeds thru-out India in 1992. THIS [2012] is the result of THAT [1992]!
She lost her life the moment she stepped into that bus with man-eating
animals inside. the rest 13 or 14 days was a formality. the tremendous
amount of pain this girl went through, we will never be able to even
imagine.
At least we could have let her die in this country!! at the end we did
not allow her even to die here!!
This is such a pain and our failure that we all will carry to our
graveyard.
This is all a fake show of concern by these politicians! The only
concern of "these people" is that the anger of the people will force
them to give up their free royal lifestyles and maybe run from India
to their millions stored abroad. All those tears are just crocodile
tears. Where was all this concern when 5 year old girls are raped and
murdered? They are only being forced to fake concern because of the
massive public anger and media storm this time!
The poor parents of the victim have probably been threatened & bribed
to have a secret quick cremation so that the public outrage does not
become an uncontrollable fire that burns "these people"!
JAGO INDIA JAGO!
Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Mr.Man Mohan Singh - the most powerful people
have done (receiving the body) what an unlettered, poorest man of
India can do. But they failed to do what was within their power to
prevent the gory incident. The Governments, formed by political
parties, always look at the incidents whether it was going to affect
them adversely or not. They do not get angry if someone's fundamental
rights guaranteed by constitution are violated. But they take oath to
uphold the constitution. Are they taking common men for fools? Mahatma
Gandhi preached non-violence not because he was afraid of bloodshed
but because violence would keep on growing without an end. The
Executive and its Police torment the the innocents but are very soft
on criminals whether it is murderer, rapist or terrorist. What they
are trying to prove anyway? That they are superior beings with
superior values. We are not media to be swayed by their eloquence.
we are ashamed on the cruel act by indian citizens.they are in no way less than beasts. they are to be punished with death sentence no mercy should be shown.i request the law & the government not to drag the case as it only pains the family of the girl.media should keep a watch on this matter as it should be dying after a few days.the rapists hsould be hanged to death & it should be done immediately. laws that cant be broken are strict laws.The government and police should also see the law of yemen ,lebanon & saudi arabia where stronger punishments are given for rapists.no mercy should be given as the girl is no more but her death shouldnt be meaningless.death sentence alone will bring some fear in the minds of people who try to attack women sexually!!pls lets pray to god atleast this should happen with no delay!
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