Indian Decade

Commission Created as Rape Victim’s Health Declines

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Indian Decade

Commission Created as Rape Victim’s Health Declines

As the victim of a terrible tragedy battles for her life, India’s government promises action.

The health of the Delhi gang-rape victim deteriorated further on Wednesday as the government announced the creation of a commission to probe the incident.

The 23-year-old medical student was brutally raped by six men in a moving bus in New Delhi on December 16th. Six individuals have been arrested in connection with the crime, which has sparked major protests in New Delhi, the country's capital, as protesters demand that the government take stronger measures to ensure women’s safety.

According to local media reports, the girl’s blood pressure dropped and she remains on ventilator support in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital she is being treated at. 

The girl briefly suffered from bradycardia — a condition where the victim suffers from a slow or irregular pulse –Tuesday night but doctors have successfully stablized her heart beat, Zee News reported.

The victim is currently being treated at Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital but doctors are reportedly considering transferring her to Medanta Medicity, a hospital also in India’s capital city. Experts from private hospitals have continuously been consulted on the best form of treatments, including for a possible stomach infection.

On Tuesday, doctors had said the girl’s condition had improved slightly since Monday night and that she was psychologically "stable, conscious and meaningfully communicative." 

The doctors also said that internal bleeding had been brought under control and her blood platelet and leukocyte count also improved after administering plasma and platelets. They did temper expectations by warning that internal bleeding could resume.

The hospital provided counseling to the family of the victim to help them cope with the trauma and provide emotional support to the victim.

Government Announces Commission To Probe Delhi Gang-Rape Case

Amid stinging criticism and nationwide protests over the country’s poor record on protecting women, the Indian government announced on Wednesday that it is setting up a commission to probe the Delhi rape case.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram said an enquiry commission headed by former High Court judge Usha Mehra would investigate the incidient and identify lapses in law enforcement that allowed the brutal crime to occur.

The minister also said the panel has been asked to recommend broader measures to ensure the safety of Inidan women in general and Delhi in particular. The government insists that it is serious about finding lasting solutions to women's safety.

The commission’s final report is expected within three months and an interim report may be issued before then.

“Whatever we are doing now is only intended to demonstrate the government’s serious intent on the matter that we will apprehend and punish the perpetrators. We will try and find out what went wrong and fix responsibility. We will also amend the laws as deemed necessary. There are three parts to what we are doing,” Chidambaram noted.

Sreeja V N is a reporter for the International Business Times, where this report first appeared.