Hang Me, says Accused in Brutal Delhi Gang-rape
New Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS): "Hang me!" So said an accused in the gang-rape of a young woman Wednesday in a Delhi court which sent him and two others to police remand after all of them admitted their involvement in the crime.
Vinay Sharma, an assistant gym instructor, told the court that he had beaten up the gang-rape victim's male friend but did nothing with the girl and told Metropolitan Magistrate Namrita Agarwal: "Hang me!"
Accused Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh, the brother of co-accused bus driver Ram Singh, in whose vehicle the crime took place, were presented in the Saket court.
The magistrate sent Gupta and Sharma to four days' police custody. Mukesh was sent to Tihar jail on 14 days' custody.
Mukesh, after confessing to the crime, agreed to undergo an identification parade. Gupta and Sharma refused to do so.
The rape and torture occurred Sunday night when the woman and her male friend boarded a private bus in south Delhi after watching a movie.
Don't politicise gang-rape incident: Dikshit
Even as the gang-rape of a woman in a moving bus continues to trigger outrage and protests across the country, Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit said Wednesday such incidents should not be "politicised".
"Such issues should not be politicised. That's what we are trying to avoid. We will gain nothing by politicising it ... If we are really concerned and feel the pain and anguish, we should do away with it," Dikshit told reporters.
On letter United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi had written on the issue to the prime minister and the home minister, Dikshit said: "She (Sonia Gandhi) has stated great anguish that this has happened and said that even as she understands that the police comes under the jurisdiction of union home ministry, she has said whatever can be done (by the Delhi government) it should be deliberated upon, so that such things do not occur again."
The chief minister said she had received the exact details of the incident and that the case would be tried in a special fast-track court.
Earlier Wednesday, police used water-canons to disperse protesters marching towards the chief minister's residence.
"I have no issues in meeting people and have asked them (protesters) to send two-three people," she said.
The 23-year-old woman, gang-raped by half-a-dozen men in a moving bus here Sunday night, is now battling for life in hospital.
The men also tortured her before dumping her on the road. Her male friend was also thrashed and thrown out of the bus along with her.
Five people have so far been arrested for the crime.