Injuries on Dec 16 gang-rape victim could be caused by rods, court told

New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) A doctor Saturday told the court trying the Dec 16, 2012 gang rape case that the injuries suffered by the victim could be caused by the weapons (rods) used in the crime.

"Looking at the nature of the injuries suffered by the victim in her private parts, in my opinion, can be caused by the weapons produced before the court," said the doctor, who was part of the medical team of Safdarjung Hospital where the 23-year-old woman was initially treated.

The woman, who was gang-raped by six men, including a juvenile, in the moving bus and later dumped on the road to die, was admitted to the hospital in a critical condition. The accused had assaulted her physically and sexually and inserted rods inside her. She later died in a Singapore hospital.

The doctor, deposing as a prosecution witness, told Additional Session Judge Yogesh Khanna that he was also the part of the team which decided to send the victim abroad for better treatment.

During the cross-examination, counsel appearing for accused Pawan asked the witness "whether that type of injuries to the victim can be caused by the weapons (rods)" recovered by police as evidence.

The doctor, after seeing the rods, said: "In my opinion I had stated that weapon produced to us (team of doctors in hospital) could cause the said injuries. I have never stated anywhere that injuries were caused by only these weapons."

The counsel, during the cross-examination requested the court to produce the two rods to be shown to witness which was allowed by the court.

On inquiring by the counsel whether doctors measured the injuries caused to the victim, the surgeon replied that "the internal injuries can not be measured".

Of the six accused, the juvenile is facing proceedings before a Juvenile Justice Board, while the other accused were put up for trial in the fast track court. One of the accused, Ram Singh, is dead, having allegedly committed suicide in jail.