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India victim's male friend recounts Delhi rape attack | India victim's male friend recounts Delhi rape attack |
(about 13 hours later) | |
The friend of a woman who died after being raped on a bus in Delhi has given his first interview since the incident. | The friend of a woman who died after being raped on a bus in Delhi has given his first interview since the incident. |
The man, who has not been named, told Zee News how he and the victim had boarded the bus and paid a fare, before he was beaten unconscious by men on board, who then attacked her. | The man, who has not been named, told Zee News how he and the victim had boarded the bus and paid a fare, before he was beaten unconscious by men on board, who then attacked her. |
He also criticised police for their slow response to the attack. | He also criticised police for their slow response to the attack. |
The woman, 23, died of her injuries last weekend, and five men are due to stand trial for her murder and rape. | |
The five could face the death penalty if they are convicted. A sixth suspect is expected to be tried in a juvenile court. | |
A special fast-track court set up to deal with the case of the five suspects is expected to sit on Saturday. | |
Meanwhile. police have opened an investigation into whether Zee News broke broadcasting laws relating to disclosure of the victim's identity. | |
Police 'argued' | |
The 28-year-old friend said he and the rape victim had boarded the bus after a trip to the cinema and after failing to flag down an auto-rickshaw. | |
He said the bus had tinted windows, and that he believed the group of men had laid a trap for them. | |
"We tried to resist them. Even my friend fought with them, she tried to save me," he said. | "We tried to resist them. Even my friend fought with them, she tried to save me," he said. |
"She tried to dial the police control room number 100, but the accused snatched her mobile away. | |
"I tried to fight against the men but later I begged them again and again to leave her." | |
He confirmed earlier reports that the assailants had thrown them off the bus and tried to run them over. | He confirmed earlier reports that the assailants had thrown them off the bus and tried to run them over. |
The friend said he had tried to get help from passers-by and motorists. | |
"They slowed down, looked at our naked bodies and left," he said. | |
And he also criticised the authorities, accusing them of being slow to arrive, then arguing over jurisdiction, and eventually taking them to the wrong hospital. | And he also criticised the authorities, accusing them of being slow to arrive, then arguing over jurisdiction, and eventually taking them to the wrong hospital. |
"My friend was bleeding profusely. But instead of taking us to a nearby hospital, they [police] took us to a hospital that was far away," he said. | "My friend was bleeding profusely. But instead of taking us to a nearby hospital, they [police] took us to a hospital that was far away," he said. |
Meanwhile, police say they are investigating Zee News because Indian law bans the disclosure of the identity of rape victims. The victim's friend was not named but his face was shown. | |
Police spokesman Rajan Bhagat told AFP news agency that a case had been filed against the broadcaster. | |
A new fast-track court inaugurated this week to handle the case is expected to hold a hearing on Saturday. | |
Five suspects have been charged with murder, rape and kidnapping. | |
The case has caused a national outcry, and there have been frequent protests calling for greater protection for women. | |
Earlier, India's top security officials held a meeting to discuss possible reforms. | Earlier, India's top security officials held a meeting to discuss possible reforms. |
They have promised to recruit more women to the police force, and supply women staff to every police station in Delhi. | They have promised to recruit more women to the police force, and supply women staff to every police station in Delhi. |