Rape shocks India [Train passengers watched attack]

Toronto Sun ^ | 2002-09-05 | AP

[Lorenb420]

BOMBAY, India -- A frail 17-year-old, her hair shorn, draws peacocks in a crowded Bombay hospital. The peacocks take her back to her village, to the days before she was raped on a Bombay train while commuters watched and did nothing.

Police said yesterday they are preparing charges against the girl's accused attacker, who faces at least 10 years in jail if convicted of the Aug. 14 assault.

The case has put police on the defensive and has prompted soul searching among Bombay residents.

"Bombayites have got to shed this 'I don't want to get involved' attitude or women will suffer," said Rashmi Chedda, a lawyer who participated in a demonstration where about 300 women protested the passengers' failure to intervene.

Media across the country carried the story, and newspaper readers asked why seven commuters watched the attack but did not step in.

FEARED RAPIST ARMED

The commuters told police they thought the man was armed. "They say they yelled at him to stop but were afraid to pull him off the girl in case he had a knife," railway police commissioner Rakesh Maria said.

Rape is not uncommon in India, though most people have long seen Bombay, India's financial and entertainment capital, as a city where women could travel alone late at night.

The girl is recovering in a hospital. Aid workers had to shave her waist-long hair because of lice. Initially thought to be a mute, mentally disabled street child, the girl is actually 17 and her silence was the result of trauma, an officials said: "She still withdraws into silence."

The girl spoke yesterday of the peacocks near her home, but was not ready to talk about the rape.

"I was not the girl in the train. That must have been another girl," she muttered.

[lsee]

When do they plan to stone her?

[Little Bill]

When do they plan to stone her?

Right after the father demands a high dowery, they marry and they discover she is not a virgin, poor kid.

[Aggie Mama]

I think the fact that she is in a hospital is a good indicator that she isn't Muslim.

[shiva]

were afraid to pull him off the girl in case he had a knife," railway police commissioner Rakesh Maria said.

What? Hit the bastard while his back is to you! Lord have mercy, are there any MEN in this world anymore?

[ikka]

"They say they yelled at him to stop but were afraid to pull him off the girl in case he had a knife," railway police commissioner Rakesh Maria said.

Another victim of citizen disarmament.

[Kermit]

Bingo! Armed people are much more likely to become Good Samaritans. What do you expect, if you take the tools away that enable people to successfully intervene?

[akash]

Incidentally if you all are not aware.... the rapist, Salim Khan is a follower of the Religion of Piss(oops Peace).

...Another day in the Religion of Peace

[dennisw]

Girl raped as train passengers watched
... Police said Wednesday they are preparing charges against the girl's alleged
attacker, 27-year-old Salim Khan, for rape and criminal intimidation. ...
www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/ 0904trainrape04-ON.html - 50k - 7 Sep 2002 - Cached

POE News Page - Archived Evil News
... Police said yesterday that they are preparing rape and criminal intimidation
charges against the man arrested in the attack, 27-year-old Salim Khan. ...
www.poenews.com/stories/13202.html - 9k - 7 Sep 2002 - Cached

Mumbai train rape victim gets visitors from home
... Mumbai train rape victim gets visitors from home. Express News Service, ... The
accused in the case, Salim Khan, is to be produced in court on Wednesday. ...
www.indian-express.com/full_story.php?content_id=8355 - 35k - 7 Sep 2002 - Cached

[dennisw]

This article censored out the name of the rapist, Salim Khan. This was in the original article. Was it censored due to him being Muslim?

Yes in my opinion.