Outrage engulfs India

Indian students and activists carry placards at India Gate during a protest following the gang-rape of a student in New Delhi yesterday.
Photo: AFP

Riot police fired water cannon yesterday at a protest in New Delhi over the gang-rape of a 23-year-old student who was left fighting for her life as anger against the brutal attack grew across India.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh joined his ruling Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi in condemning Sunday night's "heinous" assault by six drunken man who were joyriding on a bus when they picked up the woman and a male companion.
After taking turns to rape the woman, the attackers then threw the pair off the vehicle.
Four people, including the bus driver, have so far been arrested, while a hunt is ongoing for two other suspects. Three of those arrested appeared in court on Wednesday and were remanded in custody.
As the government tried to address the anger by announcing a series of measures, a number of demonstrations were held in Delhi and other cities, including Ahmedabad and Patna.
Police used water cannon on one group of demonstrators as they tried to tear down steel barricades outside the official residence of New Delhi's Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
Before the violence broke out, protesters carrying banners chanted: "We want equal rights for women."
"Women don't feel safe in the city, this is appalling," said 18-year-old student Jayesha Koushik who was among those protesting.
“The blame is always put on the women. 'She was not wearing the right dress, she was out at the wrong time, she must have provoked it'. How can you blame the women for rape?"
National crime records of India show that 228,650 of the total 256,329 violent crimes recorded last year were aimed against women.