Delhi gang-rape: Haven't been able to sleep for three days, says medical student's father

New Delhi: As the trial of five men for raping and murdering his daughter began at a special court in Delhi, the father of the medical student said at a press conference, "I have not been able to sleep for three days."

The five men pleaded not guilty on Saturday to the charges against them.  A sixth suspect, a juvenile, is being tried separately and faces a maximum sentence of three years in a reform facility.  "I don't read newspapers or watch TV. I only think that all six people should be hanged," the student's father said. "Don't call my daughter a gang-rape victim," he urged, "call her 'the country's daughter'."

The press conference was called by local BJP leaders who have dedicated a science museum to the 23-year-old who was raped, allegedly by six men, on a moving bus in Delhi in December.  She died two weeks later in hospital.  The scale of the assault on her triggered a campaign by students and women activists for stricter anti-rape laws and faster trials for those accused of crimes against women.

On Friday, the government introduced changes to criminal laws through an ordinance that has been rejected by activists as a PR move to counter criticism of the government's fumbling reaction to the massive protests that flooded the streets of Delhi and other cities after the gang-rape.

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The ordinance -which is effective immediately and must be cleared by Parliament within six weeks- deviates sharply from the recommendations of the Justice Verma commission, which was appointed by the government to review existing laws.  The three-member panel of legal experts did not suggest the death penalty for rape, but the new ordinance allows it for extreme cases. The government also ignored the suggestion to recognise marital rape as a criminal offence, and allow the prosecution of members of the armed forces accused of sexual crimes in regular courts.