SINGAPORE: Indian High Commissioner T.C.A. Raghavan says the body of Indian gang rape victim and her family will depart Singapore later in the day

Record ID: 277754

  • Title: SINGAPORE: Indian High Commissioner T.C.A. Raghavan says the body of Indian gang rape victim and her family will depart Singapore later in the day
  • Date: 29th December 2012
  • Summary: SINGAPORE (DECEMBER 29, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF INDIAN HIGH COMMISSION INDIAN FLAG INDIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO SINGAPORE, T.C.A. RAGHAVAN, SITTING DOWN (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO SINGAPORE, T.C.A. RAGHAVAN, SAYING: "The requisite formalities for sending the body to India have been completed. The deceased and the family members will be flown bac
  • Embargoed: 13th January 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Singapore
  • Country: Singapore
  • Topics: Crime,International Relations,Health,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACVSOTSAB7SIRDP7FP8Q1YCB13
  • Story Text: The Indian High Commissioner to Singapore told reporters on Saturday (December 29) the body of the gang rape victim, accompanied by her family, would be flown home on a private flight later in the day.
    "The requisite formalities for sending the body to India have been completed. The deceased and the family members will be flown back to India in a chartered aircraft later this afternoon," said Indian High Commissioner to Singapore, T.C.A. Raghavan.
    The 23-year-old medical student, severely beaten, raped and thrown out of a moving bus in New Delhi two weeks ago, had been flown to Singapore in critical condition by the Indian government on Thursday (December 27) for specialist treatment.
    She died of her injuries early on Saturday morning.
    High Commission officials and staff from a local funeral parlour were making preparations for the body to return home.
    "I can tell you that the family have yet to decide on what they are going to do in terms of the next steps. You must understand that they have suffered a great trauma and it has been a very trying and difficult time for them and since we do have the advantage of a few hours, we are letting them make up their minds without any urgency being added to it," Raghavan added.
    Earlier Raghavan declined to comment on Indian media reports accusing the government of sending her to Singapore to minimise the possible backlash in the event of her death.
    Some Indian medical experts had questioned the decision to airlift the woman to Singapore, calling it a risky manoeuvre given the seriousness of her injuries. They had said she was already receiving the best possible care in India.
    "I think the decision, the medical decision to shift her to Singapore followed consultations between the medical, ah, the medical team treating her in Delhi, with the surgeons and physicians in Singapore. So they must have come to a conclusion about the facilities available and as to how those facilities would provide the best possible medical treatment to her," Raghavan said.
    New Delhi was bracing for a possible, new wave of protests. Metro stations were closed and vehicles were banned from the city centre where young activists had converged to demand improved human rights.
    Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in a statement he was deeply saddened by the death and described the emotions associated with her case as "perfectly understandable reactions from a young India and an India that genuinely desires change."
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register