Delhi gang-rape case: Sonia Gandhi meets victim, asks Govt for strict action

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi paid a visit to the Safdurjung Hospital, where she met the 23-year-old victim late on Tuesday night. Earlier, she phoned and wrote to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Home Minister Sushil Shinde. She pushed for a strict punishment for the guilty. (Read full text of Sonia Gandhi's letters)

In Parliament, angry opposition leaders asked the government to explain what it's doing to protect women in an increasingly unsafe capital. Sushma Swaraj, BJP leader, said the death sentence must be introduced for rapists. Samajwadi Party MP and actor Jaya Bachchan broke down while discussing the case. (See special feature: Who said what)

Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said that he will ask for the case to be fast-tracked with daily court hearings. He said a special committee has been set up in his ministry to come up with guidelines to offer better protection for women. More policemen will patrol the roads at night, he said. (Read: Angry MPs ask govt for tough action, more security)

The victim of Sunday's gang-rape is in hospital in critical condition on a ventilator support system. Her male friend who tried to protect her on the bus but was beaten on the head with an iron rod has been discharged from hospital. (Read)

The National Human Rights Commission or NHRC has issued notices to the Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar and Home Secretary RK Singh in connection with the gang-rape. The commission said, "Such acts are grave violation of human rights. The incident has raised the issue of declining public confidence in the law and order machinery in the city, especially, in its capacity to ensure safety of women." The officials have been asked to submit a report to the commission in two weeks. (Read)

A man in Delhi approached the police today claiming that he was travelling on the same bus barely an hour before the gang-rape, and was robbed of Rs 8000 by the men on board before being made to get off the vehicle near the IIT campus in South Delhi.

Infosys founder Narayana Murthy told NDTV today, "I heard about the gang-rape of a young girl in Delhi. I felt ashamed to be an Indian. In the capital of our country that such a thing could happen. I only hope that the authorities will ensure that such things will not repeat." Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has urged the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court to open five special fast-track courts for cases of rape and assault on women. (Read) 

The four people arrested today include Ram Singh, the driver of the privately-operated bus and his brother. Ram Singh has refused to participate in an identification parade. (Read) 

Two other men are missing; police teams are searching for them in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan, said Delhi's police commissioner Neeraj Kumar. (Read: How police cracked Delhi gang-rape case)

Police sources say that when the woman and her friend boarded the bus, the attackers began harassing her about being out at night with a man. Her friend intervened and they began beating him with a rod. She tried to protect him and the men on the bus decided she "should be punished," said a senior police source. (Read)