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                    India's Prime Minister Appeals for Calm

   by VOA News

   India's prime minister called for calm and vowed to protect women
   Monday as he sought to tamp down growing public outrage over the gang
   rape and beating of a 23-year-old female student in New Delhi, India's
   capital.
   Manmohan Singh, in a televised address, assured the nation that justice
   would be "delivered in this case" and urged Indians to "maintain peace
   and calm."
   He said "all possible efforts" will be taken to ensure the safety and
   security of Indian women.
   Protests about the brutal attack have taken place across the country
   for several days.  Many protesters are demanding the death penalty for
   the six men now in detention.
   Police in India's capital Sunday used tear gas and water cannons for a
   second day on demonstrators who are demanding speedy action against the
   six detainees accused of a gang rape and beating of a 23-year-old
   female student.
   Sonia Gandhi, chief of the ruling Congress party, emerged from her
   residence after midnight to talk to the protesters.  She went out again
   later Sunday with her son, Rahul, who is widely seen as a future prime
   minister.
   Police said they had banned protests in the area of New Delhi where the
   protesters have been staging massive demonstrations about the rape.
   Police said the areas near the president's residence and parliament
   have been declared off-limits to protesters.
   On Saturday, thousands of protesters marched in New Delhi, shouting "we
   want justice," as police struggled to control the crowd.
   The rape victim was attacked last Sunday after she and a male friend
   were given a ride on a bus in New Delhi.  She remains hospitalized with
   severe injuries. Despite her condition, she was able to give a
   statement to police Saturday.
   More than 600 cases of rape have been reported in New Delhi so far this
   year, one of the highest rates in the country.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/india-prime-minister-appeals-calm/157
   0710.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/india-prime-minister-appeals-calm/1570710.html