December 16 gang rape case: More police at night, but fear still lurks

More police personnel deployed at checkpoints and on motorbikes and patrol vehicles can be noticed late at night in the South Delhi area where the 23yearold trainee physiotherapist was gangraped a year ago but fear still lurks among the people We wonrsquot forget People lit candles and held solidarity marches in remembrance of the gang rape as the victimrsquos parents demanded the juvenile be given the strictest punishment The parents of the victim are holding a prayer meeting at the Constitution Club seeking peace for their daughterrsquos soul PicAFP Police barricades patrol vehicles and street lighting is visible at night around the area where the woman and her male friend were on that fateful night a year ago A few women and men commuters said that though police presence has increased they still feel fear remembering the December 16 gang rape A visit to Munirka area where the young woman and her male friend had boarded the bus on that fateful night showed that streets and busstops were well lit around 11 pm Tina a 27yearold woman who resides in Munirka said she cannot forget the day the incident occurred ldquoI usually avoid going out late at night Today I got late because I went to attend a marriage ceremony of one of my friendsrdquo she said Her rented accommodation is just a few metres away from the busstop from where the gang rape victim boarded the bus with her male friend The woman was raped by five men and a juvenile in a moving private bus last year The men dumped her and her male friend on the road mdash bloodied and without clothes after nearly anhourlong ordeal She battled for her life for 13 days in Delhi before being flown to Singapore where she died Aniket a 18yearold lower division clerk at Central School in Katwaria Sarai said he always fears being robbed while travellingat night Sajid Ansaria 48yearold employee of a private company said that the gang rape is still fresh in his mind He said he prefers not having to travel at night but has to do so because of his changing shift duty ldquoI have no option but to travel at night But I do believe that security has improved in comparison to last yearrdquo Ansari said Most people said they were scared of taking public transport like buses or autorickshaws late at night and would try on most days to get back home by 9 pm Police were seen manning barricades every five kilometres while some whizzed by on motorcycles or in Police Control RoomPCR vans During the night journey till around 330 am around nine police patrol vehicles five police vans and four police motorbikes each with two policemen were patrolling the streets Kanhaiyalal a police constable said that patrol vehicles start work from 11 pm and continue throughout the nightu00a0 Nirbhaya Fund will be utilised soon Home Minister Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said that the Nirbhaya Fund for ensuring safety of women set up in memory of the young woman brutally gangraped would soon be utilised ldquoThe Nirbhaya Fund that was set up for womenrsquos safety will be utilised soonrdquo Sushilkumar Shinde said Asked about legal measures to ensure the safety of women Shinde said ldquoAmendment to the Criminal Procedure Code and the Indian Penal Code had to be done and the work has started in that context The work will happen more properly nowrdquo 1493 Number of rape cases in Delhi till November 30 3237 Number of cases of molestation registered in Delhi till November 2013 400 Number of sexual offences cases disposed by the fast track courts till the end of November 500 Number of sexual offences cases disposed by regular courts till the end of Novemberu00a0