People protest in Pune, seeking justice for deceased rape victim

Family of Nayana Pujari, who was allegedly gang-raped and murdered in 2009 by four people, are holding a rally in the city on Saturday to demand speedy justice.

Pune: People took to streets in Pune on Saturday, seeking justice for deceased rape victim of 2009, Naina Pujari. Naina, who was working with a private company in the city, was allegedly gang-raped and later killed by four persons on October 07, 2009. The main accused Yogesh Raut, 24, was a cab driver with the company, and has been absconding for the last 15 months. The banner-holding protesters demanded immediate arrest of the accused, speedy trial of the case and called for improvement in the system to prevent occurrence of such crimes in the future. “We have gathered here to seek justice for Naina. Three years have lapsed and still we are waiting for justice. The main accused has been absconding for the last 15 months. He has not surrendered before the police and so far police has not been able to arrest him," said Abhijit Pujari, Naina`s husband. The recent gang-rape of a paramedical student outraged young Indians who have taken to the streets of New Delhi almost every day protesting for justice and security for women. Beaten and raped by five men and a teenager on a moving bus in the capital on December 16, 2012, the 23-year-old student died from her injuries on Saturday (December 29), her plight shaking the conscience of many urban middle class Indians who consider gender rights as important as poverty alleviation. Sexual violence against women in largely patriarchal India is widespread, say gender rights activists, and crimes such as rape, dowry murders, acid attacks, honour killings, child marriages and human trafficking are common. "The case should be taken to fast track court for speedy justice. The government should take concrete measures to improve the system to prevent such crimes in future," said a protester, Manisha. While the fast-track procedure has broad support, many lawyers worry that legislation written in haste could be unconstitutional and oppose introducing the death penalty for rape. The protesters also submitted a memorandum to police in this regard. ANI