Four years after Dec 16 gangrape, mother's hope for justice dwindles

Four years after the horrific December 16 gangrape, the hope for justice has turned into despair for the mother of the victim, as the convicts who were sentenced to death continue to remain in Tihar jail.

For a distraught Asha Devi, nothing has changed in these years as far as women's safety is concerned.

The gangrape in a moving bus had triggered countrywide protests and prompted the government to take a re-look at laws concerning crimes against women.

"We feel nothing has changed. The governments have also changed. It has been four years but the situation remains the same. For the last four years, we have been running from pillar to post to get justice. But no action has been taken against the accused," she said.

A youth, who was among six persons convicted in the case, was released last year as he was a juvenile when he had committed the crime. One of the accused had committed suicide while four others are lodged in jail as they have appealed against their death penalty.

According to Delhi Police statistics, 2,199 rape cases were reported in the capital in 2015 while till November 30 this year, 1,981 cases of rape have been registered.

According to National Crime Records Bureau, Delhi has the highest rate of crimes against women among all the cities in the country. Last year, the total number of cases of crime against women in Delhi was 17,104.