Delhi gang-rape victim dies in hospital in Singapore
6 hours ago
The victim died in the early hours of Saturday morning, a hospital official said
A female student gang-raped on a bus in India's capital Delhi has died at a Singapore hospital, doctors say.
The 23-year-old had arrived in Singapore on Thursday after undergoing three operations in a Delhi hospital.
The attack earlier this month triggered violent public protests in India that left one police officer dead.
As news of the student's death spread across social media in India, police sealed off large parts of central Delhi and appealed for calm.
The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder tweeted that the centre of Delhi resembled a fortress, with armed police and riot troops maintaining a heavy presence.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he was"very saddened" and promised to channel "emotions and energies" into a course of action.
Six men have been arrested and two police officers have been suspended following the 16 December attack.
A statement from the hospital said the woman "passed away peacefully" early on Saturday with her family by her side.
"The patient had remained in an extremely critical condition sinceadmission to Mount Elizabeth Hospital," hospital chief executive Kelvin Loh said.
"She had suffered from severe organ failure following serious injuries to her body and brain. She was courageous in fighting for her life for so long against the odds but the trauma to her body was too severe for her to overcome.
"We are humbled by the privilege of being tasked to care for her in her final struggle," Mr Loh said.
A team of eight specialists had tried to keep the patient stable, but her condition continued to deteriorate over the two days she was at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, he added.
Officials from the Indian High Commission were also present when the patient passed away. The Indian home minister said the government had decided to send the victim overseas on the recommendation of her doctors.
Arrangements are being made to take her body back to India, said Indian high commissioner to Singapore TCA Raghavan.
"The requisite formalities for sending the body are being completed. The deceased and family members to be flown out in a chartered aircraft later today," Mr Raghavan said.
In a statement issued in Delhi, Prime Minister Singh said: "It would be a true homage to her memory if we are able to channelise these emotions and energies into a constructive course of action.
"The need of the hour is a dispassionate debate and inquiry into the critical changes that are required in societal attitudes.

http://bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20860569