PM promises women's safety, rape victim critical

Delhi's Lt. Governor Tejendra Khanna identified them as Mohan Singh Dabas of Delhi traffic police and Yad Ram of Police Control Room (PCR).

Deputy commissioners Prem Nath (Traffic) and Satyavir Singh Katara (PCR) were told to explain the police lapses. Three policemen had been suspended earlier.

The six accused, who have been arrested, were apparently drunk and on a joy ride. They had earlier robbed a man of Rs.7,000. But when he contacted police, they apparently failed to act.

Delhi Police filed five cases for violence during the protest over the gang-rape and have booked former Army chief Gen. V.K. Singh and yoga guru Baba Ramdev.

A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation met President Pranab Mukherjee in the evening to press its demand for special session of parliament to legislate measures aiming at enhancing security of women.

Talking to media persons after the meeting, BJP leader L.K. Advani said: "Whatever suggestions were given to them were rejected. So we have come to the president, who is the highest official in parliament and in the country.

With India Gate sealed off, hundreds -- the number swelling in the afternoon and again slipping towards evening -- massed near Jantar Mantar monument, about a kilometre from parliament.

Shouting "We Want Justice", the young and the middle-aged, watched by policemen and paramilitary personnel, waved placards and the Indian flags. Most people were huddled in small groups. Many were school students.

Protesters who spoke to IANS said that they were not convinced by the prime minister's assurance that the government would provide security and safety to women.

"It is just lip service and it won't work any more. We want action," said Abhijit Sinha, a Delhi University student.

"We will continue with our protests till concrete steps are taken," said Kavitha Krishnan of the All India Progressive Women's Association, one of several groups and NGOs taking part in the show of strength.