December 16 gangrape: People pay homage to Delhi brave heart on third anniversary

In a brave homage to her daughter, the mother of the December 16 gangrape victim on December 16 took her name in public, and said people who commit heinous crimes like rape should hang their heads in shame and not the victims or their families.

People light candles to pay tribute to Delhi gang rape victim at Jantar Mantar in New delhi on Wednesday (December 16). (Source: Express Photo by Prem Nath Pandey)

The 23-year-old paramedical student was brutally sexually assaulted on the ill-fated night of December 16 three years ago, and died 13 days later, triggering a massive public outrage. Among many, her spirit continued to live, and in tribute she was given the name ‘Nirbhaya’ or brave heart.

Candle march for remembering 'Nirbhaya' at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. (Source: Express Photo by Prem Nath Pandey)

The parents of the girl, Asha Devi and Badri Singh Pandey demanded that juvenile convict, allegedly the most brutal” of the six offenders, and scheduled to be released on December 20, should not be released, citing he was a threat to the city.

Asha Devi, the brave mother of Nirbhaya pays homage to her daughter at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. (Source: Express Photo by Prem Nath Pandey)

Various women’s groups had gathered at the Jantar Mantar to pay homage to the girl and agreed that it was the certainty of justice which can bring about a change. (Source: Express Photo by Prem Nath Pandey)

The Jantar Mantar street after the incident had virtually turned into a public memorial for her, with people flocking in from all parts of the city to light up a candle or offer a prayer in her memory, with many moved to tears, recalling the brutality the young girl was subjected to. (Source: Express Photo by Prem Nath Pandey)

Today also, candle light vigils, prayer meetings and a series of other events marked three years of the heinous gangrape and death of the girl, that left the nation benumbed. (Source: Express Photo by Prem Nath Pandey)