Dec 16 gang rape: Family to set up trust, tributes paid to victim (Roundup)

The mother of the Dec 16, 2012 gang rape victim Monday announced a Nirbhaya-Jyoti Trust to help rape victims, as women activists demanded justice for the family and lit candles in the young woman's memory at various places in the capital.

The parents of the 23-year-old trainee physiotherapist attended a function at the Constitution Club here to pay tributes to their daughter.

Several politicians, including former chief minister Sheila Dikshit, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj and actress Shabana Azmi attended.

"There would be a trust for rape victims. It will provide every kind of aid to them," said the mother.

"We are drafting a plan to establish the trust, which will also help acid attack victims."

The dignitaries present on the occasion met the parents and consoled them. The mother broke down when she met Dikshit and Azmi.

Members of women's organisations Monday protested against exploitation of women and demanded immediate justice to the family of the rape victim. They also lit candles in her memory at various places.

The young woman died Dec 29 last year after being brutally gang raped by six people, including a juvenile, in a moving bus.

"We came here to protect our rights. A lot of changes have happened in the past one year but more needs to be done for the safety of women and their security," Kavita Krishnan, secretary of the All India Progressive Women's Association (AIPWA), said at a protest at Jantar Mantar.

Protesters carried banners and raised slogans on women's security.

Several theatre artistes performed at Jantar Mantar and remembered the victim by observing a two-minute silence.

Students of Jawaharlal Nehru University, along with members of various NGOs, organised a candle march at the Munirka bus stand in south Delhi, the place from where the girl took the bus that night.

Neighbours of the men convicted in the case held prayers for peace at south Delhi's Ravi Dass Camp. Of the six accused in the case, four were residents of the locality.

BJP leader Arun Jaitley, meanwhile, said disgrace along with punishment was needed for culprits of violence against women.

"When we add disgrace along with punishment for those who commit crimes like rape, we will see an attitude change in society," said the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha.

Biju Janata Dal MP Baijayant Panda said strengthening the judiciary was also needed to ensure that culprits are booked.

"We need to reform the judicial infrastructure, so that cases are fast-tracked. For that we also need budget enhancement," he said.