Indian diaspora seeks strong steps against rapists

Gunepoosham Periyepayyan, a diaspora member from Malaysia, said the Indian diaspora in Malaysia was "very, very angry" over the Dec 16 gang-rape incident.

"My husband was not allowing me to come to the PBD," Periyepayyan told IANS.

According to Periyepayyan, who is attending her fifth diaspora meet, said the gang-rape and the many other incidents of rape that are reported in the media "is the one big bad thing" in India, and the government should take strong steps to stop it.

A 23-year-old woman was brutally raped on board a moving bus on Dec 16, 2012 by six males, including a minor. She died of the grievous injuries after nearly a fortnight. The horrific incident led to outrage in India with tens of thousands marching on the streets to demand stricter anti-rape laws and more security, especially for women.

The PBD is the world's largest annual gathering of people of Indian origin aimed at enhancing networking and reinforcing commercial linkages.