On the night of December 16, 2012 a young woman dubbed, “Braveheart” and a male friend unsuspectingly boarded a bus in New Delhi, India. On that bus a crime that sent shockwaves across the world occurred, six men on the bus beat both passengers and brutally raped the young woman. Then the two victims were thrown out of the bus and were not found until a passersby called an ambulance thirty minutes later.
The young woman had extensive damage to her intestines and body. She underwent five surgeries and remained in critical condition. The doctors called her a “fighter” but despite her fierce struggle she died on December 29.
This crime was not uncommon, sexual violence against women is a widespread problem in India. Official statistics of rape in India are low but this is because many rapes are not reported. Rape victims are often judged and their perpetrators escape with light punishments, especially in rural areas. A Pitman student, Preet Johal, gave her input “Girls in India are afraid to even step outside, fearing the assault that is so rampant in Indian society.”
This specific case sparked an outrage among Indian citizens, especially young adults that wish to change India’s suppressive attitude toward women. Protests were widespread in the streets of New Delhi. Protesters carried posters that read, “We want justice”, and “Hang the rapists.”
The six perpetrators were arrested on December 17 and taken into custody. While in custody one assailant was found hanging in their jail cell, suicide was suspected. Another assailant was given a separate trial, because he was a minor, and sentenced to three years in a rehabilitation center. One protester screamed, “Rape is not child’s play. So no rapist can be a child!”
In February 2013 the trial against the remaining four men officially began and the trail concluded on September 3, when the sentence was given.
Judge Yogesh Khanna announced, “In these times when crime against women is on the rise, courts cannot turn a blind eye toward such gruesome crime,” as he read out the fate the four men who were at the center of one of India’s most closely watched cases in history. The men were found guilty and sentenced to be hung.
The victim’s father believes that “Justice has been delivered.” Many others agree that justice has been served, this tragedy and many others led to a law that increased the minimum punishment for rapists. This is one step toward a safer and more tolerant country for women.
