Dec 16 gangrape: We are being treated like the guilty ones, says victim’s parents

Watch Video: December 16 Gangrape: SC Refuses To Stay Release Of Juvenile

The victim’s parents and the protesters had initially gathered at Jantar Mantar but they soon shifted to India Gate — which had witnessed massive protests in the wake of the gangrape three years ago — and where Section 144 is in place.

Some of them walked while others made the short journey in cars and auto-rickshaws, followed by a few police vehicles and several media personnel. As prohibitory orders were in place, they were initially not allowed to stage a protest or organise a march on Rajpath.

When they tried to push ahead, personnel from paramilitary forces and more policemen reached the spot to stop them.

Police finally gave in to persistent requests by the victim’s parents and allowed them to stage a protest, as long as it was restricted to one hour and only one side of the road.

The protesters, comprising students and others, sat on the road and raised slogans against the government, demanding justice for the victim.

“We are being treated like the guilty ones…while the government is allowing him (the juvenile convict) to walk out,” said the victim’s mother.

A few visitors, who were spending their Sunday at India Gate, also joined the protest. “I came here, along with my husband and son, to visit India Gate. But then I saw the protesters… they are fighting for a cause. We should support them,” said Rajshree, a bank employee.

At about 6.30 pm, the protesters were detained by the police and packed into two buses. While one bus was sent to outer Delhi’s Bawana area, the other, with the victim’s parents, headed to North Delhi’s Vishwavidyalaya metro station. Once the buses reached their destinations, all the protesters were released, said a police officer.

According to sources, while the women police personnel were trying to make the victim’s mother board the bus, the bangles on her left hand broke in the scuffle, injuring her.