Hundreds continue protest at Jantar Mantar, braving winter cold

New Delhi, Dec 29 (IANS) Braving the bitter cold, a few hundred people continued their protest Saturday night at Jantar Mantar over the death of a 23-year-old gang-rape victim.

Holding candles, the protesters continued their vigil near the Mughal-era observatory in the heart of the Indian capital.

Comprising mostly students, the protesters said they were planning for a bigger protest gathering on Sunday, when the body is expected to be brought back from Singapore.

Students organisations, including from Jawaharlal Nehru University, have begun connecting with others in order to gather for a massive protest demonstration Sunday to demand stricter anti-rape laws.

The grievously injured woman, who was raped Dec 16 on a moving bus by six men, died in a Singapore hospital early Saturday.

Earlier in the day, thousands had gathered at Jantar Mantar in a mass outpouring of grief for the young woman.

Protesters, including young and old, men and women, gathered silently at the site, with many wearing black cloth around their mouths as a sign of silent protest.

At night, hundreds of candles were placed neatly in winding rows in memory of the 23-year-old and some held larger flaming torches.

The minimum temperature Saturday was 8.5 degrees Celsius.

IANS 2012-12-29 22:56:08