Over five years back on December 16, 2012, Delhi encountered a dreadful incident. A night so dark, a crime so heinous, a day unforgettable; the Nirbhaya Gang Rape is one the most terrible occurrences that one may ever come across. It took place in Munirka, a neighbourhood in South Delhi. A college girl, 23-years of age, was gang raped in a moving private bus. The whole incident turned out to be fatal for the young girl. The only crime that she committed was that she was going back “late” (between 8-9.00 pm) to her home from a movie with her friend.
The brutal incident not only hampered her physically, but mentally as well. It was not just a traumatic situation for her parents, but for the country. Every father and mother, whose daughter was out for her studies or job, was shaken. The worries of those parents increased exponentially whose children were in Delhi.
Many efforts were made to bring the girl back to life. She was even sent to a hospital in Singapore for the treatments. Alas! The damage was too deep to be cured. After combating with the worst situation that she was in, the girl finally collapsed on December 29, 2012, at the hospital in Singapore.
Six men were accused for raping the girl, one of which was a juvenile. They were all arrested and were sent to the Tihar Jail. One of the accused died in the police custody; it was a suicide.
Finally, on May 5, 2017, after almost five years since the Nirbhaya Gang Rape happened, the Supreme Court has upheld Delhi High Court’s verdict and has announced death sentence to the four accused, Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur, in the December 16, 2012, gang rape.
Her parents waited to hear this for almost half a decade. They must have wished for this verdict in every remembrance of their girl. A girl, who once had been the charm of the entire house, was cruelly raped, thrashed and suffered to death. Had there been a punishment more severe than death, it could have been the verdict for this case.
What was been lost by the girl’s parents can’t ever be brought back to them. All that must be making them feel contented for the day is that the culprits will be dead, sooner or later, with a slightest hope that she will now smile.
Note: A documentary on this dreadful event was made by BBC, titled as ‘India’s Daughter’.