A young woman who was gang-raped on a moving bus in Delhi and left with severe internal injuries has been flown to a Singapore hospital for treatment that could last several weeks, officials said. The year-old student, who is in a critical condition, arrived in Singapore in an air ambulance and was admitted to the Mount Elizabeth hospital, renowned for multi-organ transplant facilities.
The hospital said in a statement that she was admitted to the intensive care unit "in an extremely critical condition". It said "she is being examined and the hospital is working with the Indian High Commission. The 16 December rape of the woman and her brutal beating triggered widespread protests in New Delhi and other parts of the country and sparked calls for the death penalty for the perpetrators of rape. It is punishable by up to life in prison. All six suspects in the case have been arrested.
The rape has highlighted the extensive harassment that Indian women face daily in cities and towns, ranging from unwanted hands being placed on them to being blamed for causing the sexual violence.
Even rape victims rarely come forward to complain because of the social stigma. Many women say they have structured their entire lives around protecting themselves and their children, and restricting their movements to avoid being molested.
The nearly daily protests in the heart of New Delhi following the rape have been frequently quelled by police using teargas and water cannons. One policemen died of injuries suffered in the clashes. In a written statement, the Indian high commission said it has received "many offers to help" the woman, who is "receiving full medical attention".
