Kolkata hails Delhi gang rape verdict

Welcoming the award of death penalty to the four men in the Delhi gang rape and murder, Kolkata's intellectuals called it a victory for democracy.

They demanded a similar sentence for the accused in the June 7 gang rape and murder of a college student in Kamduni in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district.

Mukesh (26), Pawan Gupta (19), Vinay Sharma (20) and Akshay Thakur (28) were convicted Tuesday for the December 2012 gang and rape.

One of the accused died during trial while a juvenile involved in the crime has been sent to a reform home for three years.

Novelist Suchitra Bhattacharya said: "There was no question of them living their lives when they raped and killed the girl... It is a victory for our democracy."

Noted theatre actor Kaushik Sen said the sentence was "justified".

"I fully support the decision. This is justice for the innocent girl and her family," said Sen.

Cricketer Manoj Tiwary tweeted: "Death for all rapists and justice done."

Lauding the efforts of Delhi Police, painter Samir Aich expressed dissatisfaction with the fate of the juvenile.

"I Delhi Police and thank them for ensuring (the rapists) get exemplary punishment. However what about the juvenile who has been declared the most brutal by court. After three years what will happen?"

Aich called for "exemplary punishment" for the accused in the gruesome Kamduni crime.

"The situation in Bengal is the reverse... Look how a section of the partisan police is protecting the nine accused... They are trying to save them."

The Delhi gang rape victim, a 23-year-old physiotherapist, was brutally gang raped on a moving bus by six people, including a juvenile. The accused then threw her and her male companion out of the vehicle - without their clothes - on the cold December night.

The woman died of her grave intestinal injuries Dec 29 in Singapore where she had been taken for specialised treatment.