India victim's male friend recounts Delhi rape attack

5 January BBC

The friend of a woman who died after being raped on a bus in Delhi has given his first interview since the incident.The man, who has not been named, told Zee News how he and the victim had boarded the bus and paid a fare, before he was beaten unconscious by men on board, who then attacked her. He also criticised police for their slow response to the attack.

The woman died of her injuries last weekend, and five men are due to stand trial for her murder and rape.The five could face the death penalty if they are convicted.A sixth suspect is expected to be tried in a juvenile court.The friend said the bus had tinted windows, and that he believed the group of men had laid a trap for them.We tried to resist them. Even my friend fought with them, she tried to save me,” he said.

“She tried to dial the police control room number 100, but the accused snatched her mobile away.He confirmed earlier reports that the assailants had thrown them off the bus and tried to run them over.And he also criticised the authorities, accusing them of being slow to arrive, then arguing over jurisdiction, and eventually taking them to the wrong hospital.

“My friend was bleeding profusely. But instead of taking us to a nearby hospital, they [police] took us to a hospital that was far away,” he said.The incident caused a national outcry, and there have been frequent protests calling for greater protection for women.Earlier, India's top security officials held a meeting to discuss possible reforms.They have promised to recruit more women to the police force, and supply women staff to every police station in Delhi.