Singapore doctors battle to save Indian gang—rape victim

SINGAPORE: Doctors in Singapore battled on Thursday to save the life of an Indian student who sustained horrific injuries in a gang—rape after she was dramatically airlifted overnight from a hospital in New Delhi.

As India’s prime minister vowed that the attackers of the 23—year—old would face swift justice, medics at Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital described her condition in the intensive care unit as "extremely critical".

"She is being examined and the hospital is working with the Indian High Commission," the hospital added in a brief statement. She is being treated in a specialised facility.

Separately, CEO of Mount Elizabeth Hospital Dr Kelvin Loh said: "As at 7pm (Singapore time), the patient remains in an extremely critical condition."

He added that she was under treatment at the hospital’s intensive care unit.

"A multi—disciplinary team of specialists is taking care of her and doing everything possible to stabilise her condition," he said.

The Indian government, which is paying for the patient’s treatment, approved the decision to transfer her from Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital where she had been treated since the December 16 assault on a bus in the centre of the capital.

Visa arrangements were also fast—tracked to enable the victim’s relatives to keep watch over her in Singapore.

The woman is accompanied by her parents, the head of the critical care unit at Safdarjung Hospital and four other doctors.

"The hospital and the family have requested that the privacy of the patient and the family be respected," said a statement from the high commission.

According to police and prosecutors, six men took turns to rape the woman and assault her with an iron bar, leaving her with intestinal injuries, before they threw her out of a bus that they had taken for a joy—ride.

While doctors in Singapore did not give details about the treatment she has received since her morning arrival, their counterparts at Safdarjung said Mount Elizabeth had been chosen as it has a multi—organ transplant facility.

B.D Athani, medical superintendent at Safdarjung Hospital, told reporters the woman had already undergone three operations in New Delhi.

It is said that her injuries were so severe that she had to have sections of her intestines removed.

"With fortitude and courage she has survived the after—effects of the injuries so far, but her condition continues to be critical," Athani added.

The gang—rape has prompted widespread street protests in India, not only in revulsion at the savage nature of the attack but also because it tapped into simmering anger at the level of violence against women.

Official figures show that 228,650 of the total 256,329 violent crimes recorded last year were against women, with the number of rapes in the capital rising 17 percent to 661 this year.

Gang—rapes are reported on a daily basis, with police revealing on Thursday that a 42—year—old woman had been found overnight dumped on a road in southeast Delhi after she was gagged, sedated and then raped by three men.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told a gathering of chief ministers from across India on Thursday that there was a "problem" which "requires greater attention" by the central and state governments. He promised to review laws on women’s safety.

Six men are in custody in connection with the assault. Singh, whose government has been stung by criticism about the notoriously slow Indian justice system, said their case would be dealt with swiftly.

"The culprits have been apprehended and the law will deal with them expeditiously," he said.

The government has already set up a commission of inquiry into the attack while a separate panel has been asked to suggest changes in the laws to make punishment for such horrific crimes stiffer.

"Laws regarding the safety of women will be reviewed," Singh said.

India was rocked by a wave of protests in the week after the attack, prompting authorities in Delhi to seal off large parts of the capital.

With most of the roadblocks having now been lifted, activists are planning to hold fresh protests at the India Gate monument where some of the largest demonstrations have taken place.

— AFP/CNA/al/jc