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At the fag end of the year, the nation was shamed when a gang of six men raped a 23-year-old para-medical student and physically tortured her to the extent that she was left to battle for her life. The incident happened on the night of December 16 when the victim, along with her male friend, boarded a private bus on way to their home from a mall in South Delhi after watching a movie.
The six men on the bus not just assaulted the girl but also beat up her male friend and threw both of them on a highway after stripping the duo.
The case evoked nationwide protests with the national capital witnessing clashes between police and angry protesters, mainly students, who tried to breach the Rashtrapati Bhawan security. Many protesters and policemen were injured in clashes that lasted for a few days and saw a crucial area of New Delhi being locked up, including nine Metro stations. A constable was also killed in the clash, but there was controversy over what led to his death. Demonstrations were also held across hundreds of cities throughout the nation.
The government, meanwhile, announced several measures to deal with such cases, including launching a dedicated helpline for women and promising to set up fast-track courts to try rapists.
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