<ul><li>The SC on Tuesday held that no additional restrictions other than those prescribed under Article 19(2).</li><li>Restrictions under Article 19(2) are exhaustive.</li><li>The case originated from a statement made by <keyword id="6355085" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="azam-khan" source="Orion">Azam Khan</keyword>, then UP minister, about gang-rape case victims. </li></ul>The <keyword id="6354977" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="supreme-court" source="Orion">Supreme Court</keyword> on Tuesday held that no additional restrictions other than those prescribed under Article 19(2) of the Constitution can be imposed on the right to free speech of a citizen, and emphasized that restrictions under Article 19(2) are exhaustive. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice S.A. Nazeer and comprising Justices B.R. Gavai, A.S. Bopanna, V. <keyword id="853181" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="ramasubramanian" source="Orion">Ramasubramanian</keyword>, and B.V. <keyword id="620466" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="nagarathna" source="Orion">Nagarathna</keyword>, delivered the verdict. However, Justice Nagarathna delivered a separate judgment. Justice Ramasubramanian, reading the majority judgment, said no additional restrictions against free speech can be imposed except those mentioned under the Article 19(2) of the Constitution. "The grounds...in Article 19(2) for restricting the right to free speech are exhaustive... additional restrictions not found in Article 19 (2) cannot be imposed on the exercise of the right conferred by Article 19 (1) (a)", said Justice Ramasubramanian. The top court said a minister's statement can't be vicariously attributed to the government and the minister is liable for the statement himself. The constitution bench judgement delivered the verdict on whether restrictions can be imposed on the right to freedom of speech and expression of a public functionary. Justice Nagarathna said hate speech strikes at the root of equality and fraternity and added that fundamental duties could be used to check disparaging speeches and promote harmony among citizens. Justice Nagarathna said the court cannot impose any greater/ additional restrictions on the fundamental right of free speech of such public functionaries. The case originated from a statement made by Azam <keyword id="6355601" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="khan" source="Orion">Khan</keyword>, then Uttar Pradesh minister, about gang-rape case victims. The top court was hearing a plea filed by a man whose wife and daughter was allegedly gang-raped in July 2016 on a highway near <keyword id="84674" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="bulandshahr" source="Orion">Bulandshahr</keyword> seeking a transfer of the case to Delhi. The plea also sought lodging of a case against Khan in connection with his controversial statement that the gang rape case was a "political conspiracy". In October 2017, a three-judge bench referred the matter to the constitution bench to decide various issues, which included whether a public functionary or a minister can claim freedom of speech while expressing views on sensitive matters. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/no-second-covid-19-booster-dose-required-govt-sources/articleshow/96701441.cms">No second Covid-19 booster dose required: Govt sources</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indias-new-covid-cases-jump-to-2582-in-last-24-hours/articleshow/96701599.cms">India's new Covid cases jump to 2,582 in last 24 hours</a>

Additional restrictions can't be imposed on freedom of speech of lawmakers: SC

Protests continue to surge across India against the rape of 19-year old Dalit girl from the <keyword id="6390895" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="hathras">Hathras</keyword> district in Uttar Pradesh. Congress workers are holding a candlelight march near India Gate against the alleged gang-rape. Protests also errupted in other parts of the country, like Pune, Chennai and Kolkata. after the brief detainment of <keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword> and <keyword id="12587" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Priyanka-Gandhi">Priyanka Gandhi</keyword> Vadra by the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police. Meanwhile, Seema Kushwaha — who fought on the behalf of the rape victim in the landmark Nirbhaya case — may also be roped into defend the Hathras victim. "The family of the alleged gang-rape victim called me to Hathras as they want me to stand as their legal counsel. I'm not being allowed to meet them as administration says it will affect law and order situation," she told ANI. UP Police claims Hathras victim was not raped A senior Uttar Pradesh police officer said on Thursday said the forensic report has revealed that the 19-year-old Hathras woman who succumbed to her injuries at a Delhi hospital was not raped. Citing a forensic science laboratory (FSL) report, ADG (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said the cause of her death is an injury on the neck and trauma resulting due to it. "The report of the FSL has also come. It says clearly that samples did not have sperm. It makes clear that there was no rape or gang rape," Kumar said. "Even the woman in her statement to police did not mention about rape but talked about 'marpeet' (beating) only," he said. "For disturbing social harmony and create caste violence, some persons wrongly presented facts," the UP police officer said. "Police took immediate action in the case and now we will identify those who tried to disturb social harmony and create caste violence," the ADG added, stressing that people "distorted facts" in the media. Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi detained for violating Section 188 on their march to Hathras Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have been detailed by the Uttar Pradesh police their way to Hathras for violating Section 188 of the Disaster Management Act. It cites disobedience which causes danger to human life, health or safety or causes or tends to cause riot or affray. Violation of Section 188 can lead to an imprisonment term up to 6 months or a fine up to 1,000 rupees. As he was being arrested, Rahul Gandhi reportedly tripped amid the melee as he was being detained by the police. <div type="image" title="rahul gandhi arrest2" msid="78426053" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Rahul Gandhi seen tripping in the process of being detained by the UP Police on his way to Hathras&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The group of Congress workers was still around 140 kilometers away from Hathras when the arrest occurred. The Gandhi's were on the way to visit the family of the 19-year old gang rape victim.. The rushed cremation of the victim has led to a surge in protests across the country. As the two Gandhi's were being taken away, Congress workers were seen blocking the road to keep the police van from leaving, which ensued in the UP police using force to clear the way. They have been taken to the Buddh International Circuit guest house. NCW seeks explanation from UP Police on urgency to cremate body of Hathras gangrape victim <ul class="inte_common"></ul>The National Commission for Women (NCW), in a statement, said it is shocked at the brutal gangrape of a 20-year-old woman in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh who died in Delhi after fighting for life for two weeks. The incident underlines the grim state of women in the society, it said. The commission said it also came across a disturbing report on police officials cremating her body in the middle of the night without the permission and presence of her family members. It has been reported that the victim's body was cremated at 2:30 am by the police without the presence of any family member. "The victim's family had reportedly appealed to the District Magistrate for taking her body home for performing the last rites, however the police went ahead with the cremation while most of her family members were away," it said. "The commission has now written to Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh seeking an explanation on the urgency to cremate the body of the victim in the middle of the night that too in the absence of her family. NCW has asked the administration to send a reply on the same at the earliest," it said. Congress convoy to Hathras stopped in UP —Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi proceed on foot Vehicles of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who were on their way to Hathras to meet the family of the Dalit gang-rape victim, were stopped in Uttar Pradesh's Greater Noida on Thursday, party officials said. <div type="twitter" handle="ANINewsUP" handlename="ANI UP" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/706717125369470976/C-CLFqhC_normal.jpg" favoritecount="503" retweetcount="115" status="Priyanka Gandhi Vadra along with Congress workers walks along the Yamuna Expressway, after her vehicle was stopped… https://t.co/BJH2t8gltG" createdat="1601540406000" id="1311581642146816000"></div> The convoy was stopped near Pari Chowk, prompting party workers and senior leaders to proceed on foot, with some functionaries saying they will walk down to Hathras. Around the same time last year, we were fighting for the Unnao daughter and the situation in UP has not changed in a year, Priyanka Gandhi told reporters as she started walking on the expressway. The Uttar Pradesh government, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath must take responsibility for women safety in the state and ensure atrocities against them are stopped, she added. After Hathras, another gangrape victim dies in UP's Balrampur A 22-year-old Dalit woman died after allegedly being raped by two men in Uttar Pradesh's Balrampur district, succumbing to critical injuries on the same day as the teen from Hathras in the state who breathed her last in a Delhi hospital two weeks after she was gangraped. Both the women died on Tuesday and were cremated on Wednesday. The two men accused of assaulting the woman from Balrampur have been arrested, police said amid outrage over the death of the 19-year-old Dalit woman from Hathras. The Balrampur victim's mother told reporters on Wednesday night that the rapists broke her daughter's legs and back, a charge denied by the police. "My daughter had gone to take admission in a college on Tuesday. On her way back, three-four persons abducted her, took her to their room, gave her an injection and raped her. They later sent her back on an e-rickshaw, which dumped her outside our house. They broke her legs and back. She could not stand or talk," the woman said. Quoting the victim's family members, Balrampur Superintendent of Police (SP) Dev Ranjan Verma said the woman worked in a private firm and returned home on Tuesday in a serious condition. She looked dazed and had a cannula, medically known as Vigo and used for administering an injection or other fluids in the body, inserted in her hands. She was rushed to a nearby hospital but died on the way, the SP said. When the matter was reported to the police by the hospital, her parents alleged she was gangraped, he added. Acting on the family's complaint, police identified the accused as Shahid and Sahil and arrested them. About the mother's allegation that the woman's legs and back were broken, Verma said, "It was not confirmed in the post-mortem. We contradict this news." She was cremated on Wednesday after the post-mortem in the presence of her family members, the police said. The district magistrate and the SP, along with the mahant of the Devipatan temple, Mithilesh Nath Yogi, visited her home on Thursday morning, met the family members and condoled her death. "The family members were assured that the accused will be given a strict punishment in accordance with law. A letter sanctioning a financial assistance of Rs 6,18,450 was handed over to them by the mahant. The amount will be sent to the victim's mother's bank account by the afternoon," a statement issued here said. The mother has demanded a compensation of Rs 25 lakh and a government job for her son. "My daughter wanted to become a lawyer but she was killed. The same fate should await the culprits. We want justice. My son should be given a government job and we should get at least Rs 25 lakh as compensation," she said. Safdarjung Hospital releases autopsy The autopsy of the 19-year old victim of the Hathras gang rape reveals that she was tortured, strangled and suffered from a cervical spine injury. However, the final diagnoses does not mention rape. It reads, "Alleged post-strangulation with cervical spine injury with sepsis with cardiopulmonary arrest." Instead, ‘rape and strangulation’ have been noted under the ‘<a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/hathras-gang-rape-autopsy-report-shows-victim-was-strangled-suffered-cervical-spine-injury-2303696">medical history</a>’ section. The report adds that the victim was given CPR and ‘despite all resuscitative efforts’ was declared dead at 8:55 am on Tuesday, September 27. Section 144 in Hathras, borders sealed The district administration in Hathras has imposed Section 144 in the area and has banned the entry of all 'outsiders' including media persons in Boolgarhi Village where a 19-year-old Dalit girl was gang-raped and later passed away. District Magistrate Praveen Lakshkar said that the Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up to probe the incident, has reached the village and is interacting with the family and other people to record their statements. "They do not want any disturbance and hence, all entry of outsiders has been stopped," he said. The District Magistrate further said that he had no information of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra reaching Hathras to meet the bereaved family. NHRC issues notice to Yogi government on Hathras incident The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of the Hathras incident of the rape and murder of a 19-year-old Dalit girl and has issued a notice to the Yogi Adityanath government. The Commission has directed the state government to provide adequate protection to the family of the deceased, keeping in view the gravity of the matter and also the aspect of the witness protection as there is apparent rift between two communities. The government has been asked to respond to the notice within four weeks. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="78421883" title="Hathras rape case: NHRC directs UP government to provide adequate protection to victim's family" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> 80 people detained over Hathras gangrape protest Delhi Police on Wednesday detained at least 80 persons who staged a protest over the Hathras gangrape case. This includes 36 men and 44 women. "Today around 11.30 pm, members of different parties - AIDWA, DSDU, AISA AIMSS - tried to reach UP Bhawan, SP Marg to stage a protest demanding harsh punishment for accused persons in Hathras gangrape case. We have detained 80 people in this connection," said a senior police officer. Police said that as the protestors have violated order u/s 144 CrPC in force and other laws regarding Covid-19, FIR u/s 188 IPC, 3 Epidemic Act &amp; 51(b) Disaster Management Act, PS Chanakyapuri has been registered against the protesters. Yogi announces ₹ 25 lakh aid for victim’s family Amid an uproar over the cremation of the body of a Dalit gang-rape victim early on Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath spoke to the 19-year-old woman's father in Hathras district and offered his condolences. He also announced a compensation of ₹ 25 lakh to the bereaved family, apart from a job to one of its members. The family would also be given a house. The victim's father sought the harshest punishment for the four accused arrested for the crime reported on September 14. Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Avanish Awasthi said that the Chief Minister assured the woman's father of the most stringent action against the culprits and all possible help to the family. Yogi sets up SIT to probe Hathras incident The Yogi Adityanath government on Wednesday set up a Special investigation Team (SIT) to probe the Hathras incident. The SIT, according to official sources, will comprise home secretary Bhagwan Swaroop, DIG Chandra Prakash and IPS officer Poonam. The SIT will submit its report at the earliest. The Chief Minister, sources said, has decided to send the case to a fast track court in order to ensure justice to the victim. All four accused have already been arrested. PIL filed in Supreme Court seeking CBI probe in Hathras gang-rape and murder A PIL was filed in the Supreme Court on Wednesday seeking a CBI probe or SIT investigation under a sitting or former Supreme Court or High Court judge in the gruesome gang-rape and murder of a 19-year-old Dalit woman in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras district. The PIL has been filed by social activist Satyama Dubey and advocates Vishal Thakre and Rudra Pratap Yadav. The petitioners urged the apex court to pass appropriate order for a fair investigation - either by the CBI or the SIT under a sitting or retired judge of Supreme Court or High Court - and transfer the case to Delhi, as Uttar Pradesh authorities had failed to take certain actions against the accused. The plea said the victim was first raped and then brutally assaulted, and according to a medical report, her tongue was chopped and her neck and back bones broken by the accused, who belonged to an upper caste. The victim succumbed to her injuries at Safdarjung hospital in Delhi. The petitioner said on September 14, the accused persons raped and brutally assaulted the victim when she was in the fields to collect fodder for her cattle. It also said that the police have said the victim's cremation was being carried out as per the wishes of the family, which was not true, and the police personnel set fire to the body of the deceased, even as media persons were banned, as per the information received, said the plea. The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Wednesday also wrote to Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde to urge the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the gruesome gang rape and murder of a Dalit woman in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras district. Hathras victim cremated, police denies coercion The 19-year-old Dalit woman from Hathra was cremated early Wednesday in her village amid tight security. "The police have forcibly taken the dead body, and my father along with them for cremation. When my father reached Hathras, he was immediately taken (to the crematorium) by the police," the victim's brother told the media. However, Hathras police have denied the charges and has issued a notice saying the coercion being talked about on social media is canard. It said: "The family cremated the body with due rituals under the supervision of police and administration." The victim, who was paralyzed after being allegedly dragged on the field by her attackers on September 14, died at the Safdarjung Hospital on Tuesday after battling for life for a fortnight. Her mortal remains reached the Boolgarhi village around midnight and the cremation was done at 3 a.m. There was tension as the victim's mortal remains reached the village and people tried to block the ambulance from moving ahead. Superintendent of Police (SP) Vikrant Veer denied any 'urgency' by the police in holding the cremation at night even though cremations do not normally take place after sunset. He added that the cremation was done by the family as usual after the body reached Boolgarhi village. The SP claimed that the situation is calm in the village, but heavy police force has been deployed. The woman was allegedly raped in a Hathras village by four men, who were later taken into custody. Initially she was rushed to the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital in Aligarh, but on Monday night had to be shifted to the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi after her condition deteriorated. She was in a critical condition and on ventilator support. (With inputs from IANS and PTI)

Outrage over Hathras gang rape case intensifies with protests across the country

Following is the chronology of events in the sensational 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case in which four death row convicts were hanged Friday morning: Dec 16, 2012: Paramedical student gang-raped and brutally assaulted by six men in a private bus and thrown out of the moving vehicle along with her male friend. The victim is admitted to Safdarjung Hospital. Dec 29: Victim succumbs to injuries and other medical conditions. Police add murder charge in FIR. Jan 2, 2013: Then Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir inaugurates fast track court (FTC) for speedy trial in sexual offence cases. Aug 31: JJB convicts a minor for gang-rape and murder and awards three-year term at probation home. Sep 10: Delhi court convicts Mukesh, Vinay, Akshay, Pawan of 13 offences including gang-rape, unnatural offence and murder of the girl and attempt to murder her male friend. Sep 13: Court awards death penalty to all 4 convicts. Mar 13: HC upholds death penalty to the 4 convicts. Mar 15: SC stays execution of 2 convicts, Mukesh and Pawan, after they file appeals. Later, stays execution of other convicts also. Feb 3, 2017: SC says it would hear afresh the aspect of awarding death penalty to the convicts. May 5: SC upholds death penalty to four convicts, says the case falls under the category of 'rarest of rare' and the offence created "tsunami of shock". Nov 8: Mukesh, one of the four death row convicts in the case, moves SC seeking review of its verdict upholding the capital punishment awarded to him. Dec 15: Convicts Vinay Sharma and Pawan Kumar Gupta move SC for review of its verdict. Jul 9: SC dismisses review pleas of three convicts. Feb, 2019: Victim's parents move Delhi court for issuance of death warrants of the four convicts Dec 10, 2019: Akshay moves plea in SC seeking review of his death penalty. Dec 18: SC dismisses Akshay's review plea. Delhi court directs Tihar authorities to issue notice to convicts to avail their remaining legal remedies. Dec 19: Delhi HC dismisses plea of Pawan Kumar Gupta claiming he was a juvenile at the time of the offence. 
 <div type="image" title="6e03c72236f91f810e936bb2f069daf4" msid="74722489" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Nirbhaya Ordeal&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 Jan 6, 2020: Delhi court dismisses complaint filed by Pawan's father seeking FIR against sole witness for allegedly deposing falsely. Jan 7: Delhi court issues death warrants against the four convicts for hanging on January 22 at 7 am in Tihar jail. Jan 14: SC rejects curative petition of Vinay and Mukesh. Mukesh files mercy petition before President. Jan 17: President Ram Nath Kovind rejects Mukesh's mercy plea. Tihar jail authorities seeks fresh date of hanging, trial court fixes Feb 1, 6 AM for execution. Jan 25: Mukesh moves SC against rejection of mercy plea. Jan 29: Akshay approaches SC with curative petition. SC rejects plea of Mukesh challenging rejection of his mercy plea. Jan 30: SC dismisses curative plea of Akshay. Jan 31: SC dismisses Pawan's plea seeking review of its order rejecting his juvenility claim. Delhi court again postpones execution of the black warrants till further order. Feb 5: HC dismisses Centre's plea against trial court order; says all 4 convicts have to be hanged together. It directs convicts to pursue all legal remedies within a week, failing which the authorities ordered to take action in accordance with law. Centre, Delhi govt move SC challenging HC verdict on hanging of convicts. Feb 6: Tihar authorities move court for fresh death warrants, trial court seeks convicts response. Feb 7: Delhi court dismisses Tihar's plea seeking fresh date for execution of convicts. Feb 11: Vinay moves SC challenging rejection of mercy plea. Victim's parents move Delhi court seeking fresh death warrant for convicts. Feb 13: Pawan refuses lawyer from DLSA as legal aid, jail authorities inform trial court. SC appoints senior advocate Anjana Prakash as amicus to represent Pawan. Vinay claims mental illness in SC, Centre says he has sound mind. Feb 14: SC dismisses Vinay's plea challenging rejection of mercy petition. Feb 17: Mukesh refuses to be represented by advocate Vrinda Grover. Delhi court issues fresh death warrants for March 3. Feb 28: Pawan files curative plea in SC Mar 2: SC dismisses curative petition of Pawan. He files mercy plea. Delhi court defers hanging of 4 death row convicts till further order. Mar 4: Delhi govt moves court seeking fresh date for execution of cnvicts. Mar 5: Delhi court fixes Mar 20 as date of execution of convicts. Mar 6: Mukesh moves SC seeking restoration of his legal remedies. Mar 11: Pawan moves court for FIR against cops for alleged prison assault. Mar 12: Pawan's father moves HC against rejection of complaint for FIR against sole witness. Mar 13: Vinay moves HC claiming procedural lapse in mercy plea rejection. Mar 16: SC rejects Mukesh's plea seeking restoration of legal remedies. 3 death row convicts move ICJ seeking stay on execution. Mar 17: Mukesh moves court seeking quashing of death penalty on claim of not being in Delhi at the time of crime, plea dismissed. Pawan moves SC with fresh curative petition and Akshay files second mercy petition. Mar 18: Mukesh moves HC against trial court's Mar 17 order, plea dismissed. Pawan, Vinay and Akshay seek stay on death penalty, Delhi court issues notice to Tihar, Police. Mar 19: SC rejects curative petition of Pawan. Mukesh moves SC claiming he was not in Delhi on Dec 16, 2012, plea dismissed. Delhi court dismisses plea of Pawan, Vinay and Akshay seeking stay of execution. SC dismisses Akshay's plea challenging rejection of second mercy petition. Mar 20: Delhi HC dismisses plea of three convicts seeking stay on execution, convicts move SC. In a pre-dwan hearing, SC brings down curtain on the case by rejecting plea of Pawan Gupta against rejection of second mercy plea. All four convicts hanged in Tihar jail at 5.30 am.

Timeline of the Nirbhaya case — the seven year march to justice

New Delhi, Jan 17 (PTI) President <keyword id="6354561" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="ram-nath-kovind">Ram Nath Kovind</keyword> on Friday rejected the mercy plea of Mukesh Singh, one of the four men convicted in the 2012 <keyword id="6357643" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirbhaya">Nirbhaya</keyword> gangrape and murder case, sources said. The rejection came soon after the Union Home Ministry forwarded the petition to the president on Friday morning. "It's a very good thing. Our hopes have gone up after the disheartening news that the execution might be delayed," the young woman's father told PTI as news came in of the rejection. Mukesh had filed his mercy petition two days ago. The four convicts -- Mukesh (32), Vinay Sharma (26), Akshay Kumar Singh (31) and Pawan Gupta (25) -- were to be hanged on January 22 at 7 am in Tihar Jail, a Delhi court had announced on January 7 while issuing their death warrants. However, the Delhi government informed the high court during a hearing that the execution of the convicts will not take place on the day as a mercy plea had been filed by Mukesh.

President rejects mercy plea of Nirbhaya convict Mukesh Singh

<ul><li>Death warrants have been issued against the four convicted in the <keyword id="1510957" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirbhaya-rape-case">Nirbhaya rape case</keyword>.</li><li>Their executions have been scheduled on January 22 at 7 am. </li><li>Nirbhaya’s mother believes this judgement will restore the faith of women in the judicial system.</li></ul>Delhi’s Patiala House Court today issued death warrants against the four convicted in the Nirbhaya rape case, seven years after the crime shook the nation. Originally, the police arrested six individuals in connection with the case. One of the assailants, Ram Singh allegedly committed suicide in jail. Another, a juvenile, was released from a reformation home after serving a three-year term. The remaining four — Akshay, Mukesh, Pawan Gupta and Vinay Sharma — will be executed on January 22 at 7 am in Jail Cell 3 in Tihar Jail. The same place where Afzal Guru, the terrorist behind India’s Parliamentary attack, was hanged. “The order will restore the faith of women in law,” Nirbhaya's mother, Asha Devi, told reporters outside the courthouse. "I am happy with the court's decision. The convicts will be hanged at 7 am on 22nd January; This decision will instil fear in people who commit such crimes," said her father, Badrinath Singh. Preparations for the executions have been well underway for over a month like special ropes are being brought in from Buxar Jail. The gang-rape that led to death In 2012, a 23-year-old paramedical student was gang-raped and brutally assaulted on the intervening night of December 16 inside a moving bus. After the abuse, she was thrown out of the vehicle at an isolated juncture. Though alive, she was brutally wounded. On December 29, she gave in to her injuries and passed way at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore. Thousands of people marched on the street across the country to protest against the judicial system. The case led to the government setting up the Nirbhaya Fund — a ₹10 billion corpus which helps state governments facilitate women safety services. The government also introduced a Nirbhaya Act in April 2013, that mandates strict punishments for sex crimes.

Death warrants issued against Nirbhaya convicts — will be hanged on January 22

Indians could think of nothing other than <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">Coronavirus</keyword> be it watching important government announcements or frantically looking for updates and the latest number of infected and deaths. While few did take time off to see drama over government fall in Madhya Pradesh unfold, or even read a few tidbits on Nirbhaya convicts hanging - these are not the only things that happened last week. We collated a few important updates that would have otherwise made headlines: Anil Ambani asked to pay $100 million to Chinese Banks The head of ADA group Anil Ambani is currently embroiled in a legal battle with three state-controlled Chinese banks over a $925 million loan of to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/the-rise-and-fall-of-anil-ambanis-reliance-communications/articleshow/74596156.cms">Reliance Communications</a> which filed for bankruptcy last year. As per the banks, Ambani provided personal guarantee for the debt, a claim which he contested. A UK court order directed him to pay $100 million to the Chinese banks by Friday. However, he has failed to meet the deadline, and this may result in seizure of his assets. 19-year-old gangraped in Maharashtra Even in times of a pandemic, anti-social elements have been ultra active. A 19-year-old girl was allegedly gangraped by five persons in a forest area in Nagpur, Maharashtra. She had gone to Khairi Village along with her boyfriend and their bike broke down. The accused came to the spot and took the woman to an isolated area and sexually assaulted her. The woman later managed to escape with her boyfriend. She filed a complaint after four days and all five accused have been arrested. Peter Mukerjea released from jail After spending more than four years behind the bars, former media baron Peter Mukerjea was released from the Arthur Road Jail on Friday. He was arrested on November 25, 2015 by the CBI in relation to the murder of his wife Indrani Mukerjea’s daughter, Sheena Bora. The Bombay High Court granted Mukerjea bail in February but stayed the order for six weeks so the Central Bureau of Investigation could file an appeal. The stay ended on Thursday and the CBI did not file an appeal in the Supreme Court. Rana Kapoor sent to judicial custody The founder of the now-troubled Yes Bank Rana Kapoor was sent to judicial custody by the Mumbai High Court in connection with the Dewan Housing Finance Ltd (DHFL) scam, on Friday. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) claims that Yes Bank gave loans of ₹30,000 crore out of which loans worth ₹20,000 crore became bad, during Kapoor’s tenure. The ED accuses that Kapoor and his family received ₹4,300 crore as kickbacks for granting these loans. Kapoor has been sent to judicial custody to Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai, till April 2. The CBI is also in the process of seeking his custody, so he might end up behind the bars for longer. Tamil actor, writer and director Visu passes away Popular Tamil actor and director M.R. Viswanathan, fondly known as Visu, passed away in Chennai on Sunday. The 75-year-old actor had a cardiac arrest, following which he was rushed to a hospital. Visu’s daughter, Lavanya said, “He passed away shortly after. The funeral will be held on Monday.” He was reportedly suffering from kidney-related ailments for the past couple of years. His mortal remains have been brought to his residence in Thoraipakkam. The final rites will take place at Besant Nagar crematorium at 4PM today. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indian-coronavirus-cases-rise-to-396-after-seven-dead-and-24-cured/articleshow/74767933.cms">Indian Coronavirus cases rise to 415, after seven dead and 23 cured</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-lockdown-in-india-list-of-states-and-districts-under-lockdown-in-india/articleshow/74760913.cms">List of states and districts under lockdown in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/checkout-uber-and-ola-services-status-till-march-31-in-delhi/articleshow/74768034.cms">Coronavirus lockdown: Uber suspends services till March 31 in Delhi — but you can still book an Ola in Delhi</a>

Important news that you may have missed amidst Coronavirus chaos

<ul><li><keyword id="7960853" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kuldeep-Singh-Senghar">Kuldeep Singh Senghar</keyword> is guilty of plotting the rape of a minor girl along with Shashi Singh, reported Times of India citing CBI. </li><li>The rape survivor, who was 17 years old at the time of the incident, told CBI Shashi Singh took her inside Senghar's residence and gang-raped her. </li><li>The Supreme Court asked the bench to conclude all the judicial proceedings within 45 days. </li></ul>The charges of rape pressed by the 19-year-old girl against the ex-BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Senghar are correct, Central Bureau of Investigation told Delhi High Court. Senghar is guilty of plotting the rape of a minor girl along with Shashi Singh, <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/theres-truth-in-unnao-girls-charges-against-mla-says-cbi/articleshow/70579702.cms">reported</a> Times of India citing CBI. The investigating agency further added that they have sufficient evidence to prove Senghar guilty. The rape survivor, who was 17 years old at the time of the incident, told CBI that Shashi Singh took her inside Senghar's residence, and gang-raped her. A week ago, CBI filed a case against Sengar and eight others for murdering a 19-year-old girl, who accused them of rape, <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/unnao-rape-survivor-accident-cbi-fir-mla-kuldeep-sengar-1575481-2019-07-31">reported</a> India today. Fighting for the right to justice The 19-year old rape survivor l<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/timeline-of-events-for-unnao-rape-case/articleshow/70466622.cms">ost her father and two aunts</a> in her long extended fight for justice. Her father was arrested on an Arms case where he died in custody. CBI <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/timeline-of-events-for-unnao-rape-case/articleshow/70466622.cms"> alleged Senghar</a> of engineering an accident that took place on 28 July which is how two of her aunts died. She and her lawyer were also critically injured. On August 6, s<a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/unnao-rape-survivor-her-lawyer-to-be-shifted-from-up-to-aiims-in-delhi-for-treatment-says-supreme-co-2080443">he was taken</a> off the ventilator and airlifted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). In a letter she wrote to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) on July 12, the girl had mentioned the possibility of a threat. Unfortunately,<a href="https://www.news18.com/news/india/didnt-receive-letter-from-unnao-rape-survivors-kin-says-cji-gogoi-seeks-report-from-sc-registry-on-delay-2252495.html"> the message reached CJI Ranjan Gogoi</a> on 30 July, two days after she met with an accident. After <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-apex-court-directs-up-state-government-to-grant-25-lakh-as-interim-compensation-to-unnao-rape-survivor/articleshow/70482765.cms">the accident</a>, a bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi also <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/supreme-court-unnao-case-hearing-live-updates-1575940-2019-08-01">transferred </a>the all the five Unnao cases — rape, case on her father under Arms Act, a case on the custodial death of the father, murder case against Kuldeep Sengar, and finally the accident — to Delhi High Court on 1 August 2019. The Supreme Court also the bench to conclude all the judicial proceedings within 45 days. The apex court also issued orders to provide ₹250,000 as interim compensation to <keyword id="490253" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Unnao-rape-case">Unnao rape case</keyword> survivor. In April 2018, a four-time MLA Sengar was <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/unnao-rape-case-fir-against-victim-kin-for-falsely-claiming-she-is-a-minor-1418061-2018-12-27">accused</a> of raping the minor at his place in Makhi village. He is currently in judicial custody. See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-apex-court-directs-up-state-government-to-grant-25-lakh-as-interim-compensation-to-unnao-rape-survivor/articleshow/70482765.cms">India’s apex court directs UP state government to grant ₹25 lakh as interim compensation to Unnao rape survivor</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/timeline-of-events-for-unnao-rape-case/articleshow/70466622.cms">A 19-year old Indian rape victim lost her father and nearly lost her life in her fight for justice</a>

Unnao Case: India’s premier investigating agency finds ex-BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Senghar guilty of rape

By Radhika Sharma New Delhi, Jun 11 () The world may get a booster for the coronavirus in a year or so, but patriarchy can't be cured with a vaccine, says Shaan Vyas, director of the short film "Natkhat", starring Vidya Balan. With the runtime of 33 minutes, the short, co-written by Annukampa Harsh and Vyas, follows a child named Sonu who is growing up in a home with men who espouse the "boys will be boys" line of thought, except his mother (Balan). "The child starts picking up things from his immediate environment more than he does from school," the director said of the film which explores gender inequality, inappropriate behaviour, and domestic violence through a story-within-a-story narrative. In 2018, Vyas said, there was a spate of gangrapes in the country which flooded the news cycle, but there was one incident that "ticked" him off. "I don't want to single out the incident but I was really angry. In my own naive way, I was trying to figure out a solution to what I can do around it," he told in an interview over phone from Mumbai. In his research, the 35-year-old said, he found that the law reforms were largely for the gangrape victims. "There will be a vaccine for coronavirus sooner or later but there's no vaccine for patriarchy. I felt the solution was for the change to begin at home," the filmmaker, who has produced films like "The Lunchbox", "Masaan" and Oscar winner short doc "Period. End of Sentence", for Sikhya Entertainment, added. Vyas said initially when he was writing the short alone, he came up with a "very male draft", but after Harsh came on board, "Natkhat" became a "gender equal" film. "It was a very dry, skeletal draft. Anukampa gave the film its heart and soul. It appeared more like a man writing about masculinity but missing the female perspective on oppression. We sort of balanced our energies from right the very beginning," the Mumbai-based producer said. Last year, director Taika Waititi used a child at the centre of his directorial "Jojo Rabbit", an anti-war satire set in Nazi Germany, to underscore the horrors of blind nationalism. Similarly, Vyas said he chose a child to drive the point home. "The society in which our children grow up gives them sensory cues about men being the dominant gender, inequality and discrimination on the basis of colour, which is a very relevant thing today. "The roles, even in schools, are assigned differently to boys and girls. People with power, like cops, politicians, are male. Plus innocence of a child gives you a little freedom in storytelling. Children can believe things at a certain age." Interestingly, child actor Sanika Patel, who Harsh found via Instagram, plays Sonu in the film. "I thought she's recommending Sanika to play the other girls in the film. But Anukampa wanted her for Sonu." Vyas was initially taken aback but it soon felt like a eureka moment as he was apprehensive about teaching a boy the very misbehaviour which the film targets. "I felt now I don't need to teach a boy. The acting process changed with Sanika. We asked her to emulate the boys her age, who are pretty much bullies. So many good things happened because of her. It brought a lot of sensitivity to the film. "Whenever she was acting, she was aware that this is what boys do, which is a bad thing. That 'I will never do this in real life, but I will teach them a lesson and make sure they never do it again'." The title maybe a direct reference to Lord Krishna but the director said the film didn't have that commentary in the beginning. "The mother refers to Sonu as 'Natkhat Lala' and that came from the fact that this is a religious family from north India. It became a function of the fact that character inhabit that phrase more than a direct reference about Lord Krishna." Sonu's life in the film mirrors the story his mother conjures up to make his child aware about the dangers of patriarchy. Vyas said they initially wanted to root the story in mythology but since nothing fit, they decided to create their own story. "It was again Annukampa who came up with the use of existing fantasy element tropes of kings and queens, which made the story children friendly." Other than Sonu, every character in the family is identified as in relation to the child. "Women in our countries are not really called by their names, more by their roles, so this was another conscious decision. We had names for the characters in the script but the opportunity to name them while shooting didn't arise. It sometimes becomes tricky to write names while writing dialogues," he added. Balan, who turned producer with "Natkhat", brought a mass appeal to the film, the filmmaker said. RSVP's Ronnie Screwvala is also attached as co-producer. "Having her onboard as an actor and a producer makes the film accessible to a wide range of audience," he said. The film doesn't stop at lip service with an apology from the child - potential bully-turned-empowered young person - but goes one step ahead showing him implement the change he is now driven to see. "I think the difference between intention and action is something most men struggle with a lot. As a man, when I was writing the script, I felt saying 'sorry' should be enough. It was contested very ably by Annukampa that 'No, sorry is not enough'." Vyas is working on another short which he wrote under lockdown. "I would love to keep producing as well as empowering other voices," he added. RDS BK BK

There's no vaccine for patriarchy: 'Natkhat' director Shaan Vyas

New Delhi, Jan 16 () After observing little progress on setting up monitoring centres by states for implementation of vehicle tracking system, the Centre has stepped in to ensure effective implementation of the project under the Nirbhaya Framework with an assistance of Rs 332 crore.
In a letter to Principal Secretaries and Transport Commissioners of states and Union territories, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has asked them to apply for the assistance by February 15.
"Since very little progress could be achieved on setting up the Monitoring Centers, it was felt necessary to support the States under Nirbhaya Framework to set up Monitoring Centers at the earliest so as to effectively implement the vehicle tracking system and ensure safe commute to the women and children in public passenger transport vehicles," the communication said.
The ministry earlier had mandated vehicle location tracking (VLT) device and emergency buttons be fitted in all public service vehicle w e f from April 1, 2018, which was re-examined and it was decided to give exemption to all public service vehicles that were registered till December 31, 2018 (old vehicles) from these requirements till the time as notified by state/UT governments.
All public service vehicles registered on or after January 1, 2019 must be fitted with VLT device and emergency buttons, it has said.
However, little progress was observed on state's parts, the communication said, adding under the project now 37 states / UTs have been divided into four categories, and the Centre would provide 60 per cent assistance for states, which do not fall in difficult terrain, while 90 per cent to states under difficult terrains and 100 per cent in case of UTs.
The total project, it said, will cost about Rs 463.90 crore out of which central assistance will be to the tune of Rs 332.24 crore.
"The objective of the project is to improve safety of women and children in public service vehicles through the implementation of CMVR (Central Motor Vehicles Rules) 125H.
Accordingly, all the specified public service vehicles will be equipped with VLT device with multiple emergency buttons for requesting
emergency response, the ministry has said.
It added that the states and UTs will set up monitoring centres for watch out alerts and emergency buttons etc.
Nirbhaya Framework was issued for steps for safety of women in the wake of December 2012 Nirbhaya case, in which six people had gang-raped a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus, which had sparked a countrywide protest. NAM BAL

Centre asks states to set up monitoring centres for vehicle tracking system

<ul><li><keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> of India rejects the review petition of Akshay Singh, one of the four convicts in the Nirbhaya rape and murder case. </li><li>The Supreme Court today upheld the 2017 judgement saying that it found no error in the verdict given by a fast-track court. </li><li> Two years back, four of the six accused in the horrific rape case were sentenced to death. </li></ul> The Supreme Court today upheld the 2017 judgement saying that it found no error in the verdict given by a fast-track court. Two years back, four of the six accused in the horrific rape case were sentenced to death. In a review petition, Akshay Kumar Singh — one of the accused said that no CBI probe was conducted and that the real culprits are still out. He also argued that six people cannot possibly rape a girl in 21 minutes. He also presented a book by Sunil Gupta — that talks about yet another accused Ram Singh’s death in Tihar jail. Ram Singh had committed suicide in jail. One of the bizarre arguments by Akshay Kumar Singh was about Delhi’s bad air quality he said, “People are already dying so why give a death penalty.” The horrific <keyword id="1501541" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirbhaya-case">Nirbhaya case</keyword> In 2012, a 23-year-old paramedical student was gangraped and brutally assaulted on the intervening night of December 16-17 inside a moving bus. Later, she was thrown out at an isolated place by the accused. Due to the brutality inflicted on her, she died on December 29, 2012 at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore. Police had arrested all the six accused in the case. Ram Singh, one of them allegedly committed suicide in jail. A juvenile who also convicted was released from a reformation home after serving a three-year term. As many cases and petitions were filed after the fast track court verdict. In fact, in 2017, Supreme Court upheld capital punishment and so did the Delhi High Court. Thousands of people marched on the street across the country to protest against the judicial system. The case lead to the government setting up Nirbhaya Fund — a Rs 10 billion corpus which helps state governments facilitate women safety services. The government also introduced a Nirbhaya Act on April 3, 2013 that mandates strict punishments for sex crimes. The government also expanded the definition of rape and involved forced penetration, oral, vaginal or anal, with any foreign object in it. It also recognised stalking and voyeurism as an offence. The law also stated that certain offence will be dealt separately under IPC such as acid attack (Sec 326A), attempt to acid attack (Sec 326B), sexual harassment (Sec 354A), act with intention to disrobe a woman (Sec 354B), voyeurism (Sec 354C), and stalking (Sec 354D). In 2019, two rape cases <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/unnao-rape-case-delhi-high-court-convicts-ex-bjp-mla-kuldeep-singh-sengar/articleshow/72751775.cms?utm_source=copy-link&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=Click_through_social_share">shocked the nation when both the victims were burnt to death</a>. The first was the rape and murder of a 27-year old doctor in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/hyderabad-rape-case-accused-shot-dead-in-a-police-encounter/articleshow/72393351.cms">Hyderabad which culminated into an encounter where all the accused were shot by Telangana police</a>. Yet another rape victim of Unnao died a horrific death as the 23 year old girl was stabbed and set on fire as she was on her way to a court hearing. This week, a Delhi Court<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/unnao-rape-case-delhi-high-court-convicts-ex-bjp-mla-kuldeep-singh-sengar/articleshow/72751775.cms?utm_source=copy-link&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=Click_through_social_share"> convicted former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar for kidnapping</a> and raping a minor girl in Unnao in 2017. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/hyderabad-rape-case-accused-shot-dead-in-a-police-encounter/articleshow/72393351.cms">Hyderabad rape case accused shot dead in an encounter and magisterial probe is ordered</a>

Nirbhaya case: Supreme Court rejects review petition and upholds death penalty

<ul><li>All 7 who were found guilty in the murder and rape of an eight year old girl in Katha have been convicted. The court has acquited one of the accused in the case. </li><li>The court will announce the quantam of sentence in the case against the six convicted at 2 pm today. </li></ul> The J&amp;K Court has convicted the main accused, Sanji Ram, for the murder and rape of 8-year old girl last year in Kathua district in <keyword id="17605" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jammu-and-kashmir">Jammu and Kashmir</keyword>. The court will announce the quantam of sentence in the case against the six convicted at 2 pm today. The rest six accused in the Kathua rape case are convicted under three sections including <keyword id="7741461" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ranbir-Penal-Codes-Sections-201">Ranbir Penal Codes' Sections 201</keyword> (pertaining to the disappearance of evidence) and 120-B (pertaining to criminal conspiracy). One of the eight accused has been acquitted by the court. The horrific rape and murder case that shook India In January 2018, the brutal rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir sent shivers across the nation, raising questions on the safety of women in India. According to the J&amp;K police, the girl was forced to take sleeping pills, dragged and locked inside a nearby temple. She was repeatedly raped for the next three days, said the Jammu and Kashmir police. The girl was strangled to death as one of the accused tried to rape her yet again. Her bloodied corpse was found in the forest. The Jammu and Kashmir police arrested eight men in connection with the crime. Reports of two police officers accepting bribes for covering up the crime also surfaced. One of the arrested suspects is juvenile. India toughned its juvenile law for serious crime including rape after the horrific December 2016 Delhi gangrape. The bill allows juveniles between 16 and 18 years of age to be treated as adults for serious crimes like rape or murder. The police officials said that they have DNA tests and physical evidence of the defendants connected with Asifa’s case. The officials also said that they interviewed over 130 witnesses who “unequivocally corroborated the facts that emerged’’.

Kathua rape case: The J&K Court convicted six of seven who were held guilty for 8-year-old's rape-murder last year

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/52089083.cms" />After two years, the Indian government is finally acting on installation of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=CCTVs&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">CCTVs</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=gps&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">GPS</a> in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=public+transport&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">public transport</a> vehicles. 
 
In 2014, the then UPA government had set up a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=nirbhaya+fund&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Nirbhaya fund</a> for setting up of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=panic+button&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">panic buttons</a>, CCTV cameras, <keyword id="6362652" type="TECHNOLOGY" weightage="20" keywordseo="GPS">GPS</keyword> in <keyword id="85028" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="public-transport">public transport</keyword>. But the project couldn’t see light of the day. 
 
Now, the road ministry has issued a draft for installation of the three systems in vehicles having seating capacity of 23 and above. Public transport vehicles having below 23 seats must install vehicle tracking device and emergency button. 
 
The draft stated that the the tracking device, alert button and CCTV surveillance system devices shall be fitted by the manufacturer or the dealer or the respective operators, as the case may be. 
 <keyword id="1577170" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirbhaya-fund">Nirbhaya fund</keyword>, which was set up after a 23-year-old woman was brutally gang-raped in a moving bus in Delhi in December 2012, was made to map routes of public vehicles and crack down on any violations. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

2 years on, public transport vehicles to be fitted with CCTVs, GPS

<ul><li>Around 550 women's issues experts from around the world were asked to rank the top 10 amongst the 193 United Nations member states.</li><li><keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> came in first followed by <keyword id="6354541" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="afghanistan">Afghanistan</keyword>, <keyword id="6354913" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="syria">Syria</keyword>, Somalia and <keyword id="50996" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Saudi-Arabia">Saudi Arabia</keyword>.</li><li>Cases of crimes against women rose by nearly 40% to a staggering 338954 cases between 2012 and 2016. </li></ul> Another feather has been added to India’s cap of shame. The country topped the list of ‘10 most dangerous countries for women’, based on a survey by <a href="http://poll2018.trust.org/">Thomson Reuters Foundation</a>. <div type="image" title="top 10 dangerous countries for women" tempid="364831" msid="64752461" hostid="261"></div>

 Around 550 women's issues experts from around the world — that included academics, health workers, policy-makers and NGO workers, of which 43 are based in India — were asked to rank the top 10 amongst the 193 United Nations member states based on six main categories: healthcare, discrimination, cultural traditions, sexual violence, and human trafficking. Of these, India has managed to bag the first position in three categories - <ul><li>Cultural traditions that include acid attacks, <keyword id="6454554" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Female-genital-mutilation">female genital mutilation</keyword>, child marriage, forced marriage, stoning, physical abuse or mutilation as a form of punishment/retribution and female infanticide. </li><li>Sexual violence that includes rape as a weapon of war, domestic rape, rape by a stranger, the lack of access to justice in rape cases, sexual harassment and coercion into sex as a form of corruption.</li><li>Human trafficking that includes domestic servitude, forced labour, bonded labour, forced marriage and <keyword id="464950" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="sexual-slavery">sexual slavery</keyword>. </li></ul> 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="javascript" title="Custom"><cdata><![CDATA[
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">&quot;The way they look at girls. The way they check you out. The way they follow you. It&#39;s kind of disgusting.&quot; Women in India share their stories as our poll finds the country is the world&#39;s most dangerous for females. Read more on this here: <a href="https://t.co/0EoZ6E6Xrl">https://t.co/0EoZ6E6Xrl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorseForWomen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorseForWomen</a> <a href="https://t.co/dAIBeAfo4l">pic.twitter.com/dAIBeAfo4l</a>&mdash; Thomson Reuters Foundation News (@AlertNet) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlertNet/status/1011402410898513921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2018</a></blockquote>

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 This survey is a repeat of the one conducted seven years ago, in 2011. The respondents at that time were asked to pick the top five countries that are dangerous for women in which India featured in the fourth position. This time, however, the nation has managed to surpass war-torn Afghanistan and Syria, Somalia and even Saudi Arabia, a country that granted women permission to drive just this week. <keyword id="3001" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pakistan">Pakistan</keyword>, India’s neighbour, has managed to wriggle out of the top 5 (good for them) and now holds the sixth position in this list. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
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 What is perhaps truly disturbing is despite the outcry that followed the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-20863707">2012 Delhi gangrape</a> and the recent <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-43722714">Kathua</a> child rape incident and many more reports of crimes against women, there's little by way of noticeable moves from authorities. Though <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-21950197">new laws</a> have been brought into place and/or dated laws have been updated, big changes are yet to be seen on the ground. In fact, according to the <a href="http://ncrb.gov.in/StatPublications/CII/CII2016/pdfs/NEWPDFs/Crime%20in%20India%20-%202016%20Complete%20PDF%20291117.pdf">National Crime Records Bureau data</a>, from 2016, cases of crimes against women rose by nearly 40% to a staggering 338954 cases between 2012 and 2016.

India is now the most dangerous country for women: report

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/529a33756bb3f7c070864628-1200-924/rtx15x9i-1.jpg" border="0" alt="RTX15X9I" />REUTERS/Anindito MukherjeeTarun Tejpal, the 50-year-old founder and editor-in-chief of <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>'s leading investigative magazine Tehelka, speaks with the media upon his arrival at the airport on his way to Goa, in New Delhi November 29, 2013. The man at the centre of a sexual assault scandal that has whipped India's media into a frenzy is no average Joe.</div></div></div>NEW <a>DELHI</a> (Reuters) - Police arrested the editor-in-chief of an Indian magazine on Saturday over allegations that he had sexually assaulted a woman colleague, in a case that has turned the focus back on sexual violence after the fatal gang rape of a woman last year.
The journalist told a superior that <a>Tarun Tejpal</a>, 50-year-old founder of the award-winning weekly <a>Tehelka</a>, had assaulted her twice in a hotel elevator during a conference in the resort state of <a>Goa</a> this month.
The investigation into Tejpal, who denies the accusations, has dominated headlines in <a class="cite">India</a> for 10 days as news outlets follow every twist and turn, and follows similar accusations by an intern against a retired <a class="cite">Supreme Court</a> judge.
"He (Tejpal) has formally been arrested and will be produced before a designated court within 24 hours," Dr. <a class="cite">O.P. Mishra</a>, <a class="cite">Goa</a>'s deputy inspector general of police, told Reuters.
Police have studied closed-circuit video footage from the hotel to establish what happened, but there were no cameras in the elevators, a spokeswoman for <a class="cite">Goa</a>'s chief minister said last week.
In a leaked email to the magazine's management, Tejpal said that an "unfortunate incident" had occurred between himself and the journalist, describing it as "a bad lapse of judgment".
The case has triggered a media debate about silence over the harassment of women at their places of work.
It is also seen as a test of a tougher law on crimes against women that was adopted after a 23-year-old woman was gang-raped on a moving bus in <a class="cite">Delhi</a> last year, beaten and then pushed out onto the street along with her male companion.
She died two weeks later amid an outpouring of anger across <a class="cite">India</a>. Four men were sentenced to death while a teenager was sentenced to juvenile custody.
<a class="cite">India</a>'s working women often face sexual harassment from colleagues, managers or employers, yet few report these cases, fearful of losing their jobs or facing persecution simply for speaking out, gender rights activists say.
(Editing by Sanjeev Miglani and Kevin Liffey)

Another Heavy Sexual Assault Case Is Dominating India's Airwaves

<div class="image-container" style="width:590px"><div class="image"><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/514f416a69bedd552c000018-700-393/2026b4b267edc820015a999a1f83f39a.jpg?maxX=590" border="0" alt="Hotel india rape" width="590" /></div><keyword id="68053" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="AFP">AFP</keyword></div>
A British woman who jumped from a hotel balcony in <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> fearing a sexual assault said on Sunday she shouted for help for more than an hour before she fled.
Jessica Davies, 31, from London, said she had barricaded the door of her hotel room in Agra with furniture to stop two men from entering.
"I held my key in the lock and I could feel them turning it from the other side," she told the BBC.
Davies, a dental hygienist, injured both legs in the jump but said her ordeal could have been a lot worse.
The manager of the hotel and another member of staff appeared in court on Wednesday accused of harassing Davies, with their lawyer saying they denied the charges.
Davies said she wanted to talk about her experience "because the shame of sexual assault makes many people too scared to speak out".
She also said it was "disgusting" that her fellow hotel residents had failed to help.
The incident came just days after a Swiss cyclist was allegedly gang-raped in the central state of Madhya Pradesh by a group of villagers, while on a cycling trip with her husband that was meant to include a stopover in Agra.
Davies, who is now back in Britain, told the BBC her ordeal began when she was "surprised" by a knock at her door at 3:45 a.m.
She denied claims by the hotel manager's lawyer that she had asked for a wake-up call, saying she had set her phone alarm for 4.30 a.m. to catch a taxi for a train to Jaipur.
She said she was still wearing pajamas when she opened the door to find the hotel manager asking if she wanted to take a shower and offering a massage. "He was showing me this oil he had," she said.
When he refused to go away, she barricaded herself inside her room. For the next hour and a quarter "I was kicking the door and screaming hoping someone would help", she said.
"By hook or by crook this person — or persons — were going to get into my room. I'm 100 percent certain. And there was only one way out, to jump two floors."
Davies said that when she hit the ground she heard a shout but "I didn't look back and just ran", hardly noticing her injuries as adrenaline took over.
She said a passing rickshaw driver took her to a police station where he stayed with her for hours and acted as translator.
"He was amazing," she said, but added: "I don't know his name and I don't know how to thank him."
She also praised the police in Agra.
Davies insisted she had been "exercising a lot of caution and wearing appropriate clothes" after hearing about recent cases.
She said she had not been put off from returning to India, but was "never going to travel alone again".
Prakash Narayan Sharma, lawyer for the hotel manager Sachin Chauhan, told AFP his client was being framed and claimed Davies had invented the story.
He also claimed it was a conspiracy concocted by tourism authorities in New Delhi to tarnish the image of Agra, which is home to the Taj Mahal, a major tourist attraction.
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