Delhi girl death: Shinde pledges strict action

New Delhi, Dec 29 (IBNS) As India mourned the death of the Delhi gangrape victim, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Saturday said the government is committed to seek detterent punishment for all the culprits and to strengthen laws.

In his condolence message, Shinde said: "I am deeply saddened by the demise of the brave girl. We tried our best to provide her best possible health care."

"Govt is committed to seek detterent punishment for all the culprits. Govt is also committed to make necessary changes in the law to make it more stringent so that such incidents do not recur in future. I express my deep condolences to the bereaved family," he said.

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said a safe environment for women will be an ideal tribute to the Delhi braveheart.

In his condolence message, he said that a young, promising life has been brutally snatched away in most tragic circumstances.

"A brave and courageous girl who fought till the very last minute for her dignity and life will be remembered as a symbol of indomitable spirit and invincible determination," said Azad.

"A humble tribute to that courageous girl would to reaffirm our resolve to create a congenial and safe environment for the women of our country," he said.

Azad said the government tried to provide the best possible care to the traumatized girl.

"However, destiny had something else in store as the girl could not survive the brutality that she underwent. May the departed soul rest in eternal peace in heaven," said the minister.

The 23-year-old medical student who was raped and brutalised by six men on a moving bus in Delhi on Dec 16, was shifted to Singapore´s Mount Elizabeth Hospital because it specializes in multi-organ transplant procedures.

She died in the hospital Saturday morning (Indian time 2-15 am), finally losing a 13-day-long fight with destiny, but leaving the nation in a state of mourning and churning as the collective anger of people found new expressions in clamour for change and justice.