Opposing release of young Delhi rape convict

The supreme court today rejected a petition filed by the Delhi commission for women against the release of the juvenile convict in what is known as the Nirbhaya gang-rape case, saying it “shared” the concern of general citizens’ but its hands were “tied” by the law.

The youngest convict from the fatal 2012 gang rape in New Delhi, India has been released Sunday after fulfilling his three-year sentence in a reform home.

The 23-year-old physiotherapy student died 13 days later in a hospital in Singapore from her injuries, which including being beaten with an iron bar, raped while unconscious causing internal injuries and being thrown naked from the bus.

According to the Washington Post, hundreds gathered in New Delhi, India on Sunday to protest the release of one of the New Delhi rapists. Four were given death sentences by hanging which they are now appealing, while the fifth reportedly hanged himself in prison in 2013, though defence lawyers say he was murdered.

The DCW, on Saturday late evening, had knocked the doors of the apex court after the Delhi High Court last week had refused to extend the juvenile’s three-year sentence in a remand home.

Activists are demanding the age for being considered a juvenile change from 18 years old to 16 years old.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police, acting on the fact that the convict’s release was not stayed by the Supreme Court, released him to an NGO on December 20.

“It is my appeal to the victims’ parents that we are together in their fight towards justice, but we are not above the law. We only know that the system has failed us”.

The youngest of the convicts was sent to a juvenile correctional facility for a three-year term- the maximum allowed under Indian law. The victim’s mother said she wanted justice for her daughter and said steps should have been taken long before to not set him free.

Nirbhaya’s death has been a uniting force for protesters who see the country’s sentencing laws for rape and sexual assault as unacceptably lenient.

“Had the convict not been released I would not have come to the streets”.

The juvenile’s release triggered condemnation from sections of civil society and the victim’s parents, who were detained by the police after sitting on a dharna at India Gate.

Reacting to the development, the parents of Jyoti Singh, who is known as Nirbhaya, said they will continue the protests till justice is done.