Delhi gangrape: Police arrest fifth accused; victim remains critical

New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Friday arrested the fifth accused from Uttar Pradesh in connection with the gangrape of a 23-year-old medical student in the city. The Delhi Police Commissioner said that his age was being verified before giving the details. "The fifth accused has been arrested in the rape case. His age is being verified before giving details. If minor, we have to hold back his particulars as per law," Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar said on Twitter.

The police were conducting raids in Haryana and Bihar to trace the sixth accused Akshay Thakur, who had been absconding. The Delhi Police will file a status report in the High Court on Friday. It is expected to explain its failure in stopping the bus during the horrific incident on the fateful night even though it crossed five police pickets. The Home Ministry Parliamentary Standing Committee has summoned the Delhi Police Commissioner on December 27.

Meanwhile, the 23-year-old victim remains in a critical condition. Doctors say the blood infection is still spreading. Doctors say that her chances of survival depend on her body's ability to fight off the infection in her blood and stomach.

The police were conducting raids in Haryana and Bihar to trace the sixth accused Akshay Thakur, who is still absconding.

The victim has been on and off ventilator for over 70 hours now. On Thursday, the doctors lauded the spirit of the girl who has been communicating with her mother, brothers and the doctors through writing. She asked whether her tormentors had been caught.

Delhi will witness more protests on Friday with Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party holding a demonstration at Jantar Mantar. Families of several rape victims are also expected to join him.

On Thursday, one of the four accused in the case was "identified" by the victim's friend during a Test Identification Parade (TIP) at Tihar Jail. The 23-year-old victim's male friend, an engineer in a software company, identified Mukesh during TIP, a senior police official said. Out of the four accused, only Mukesh had agreed to TIP when he was produced before a court on Thursday. Other accused, Ram Singh, Pawan and Vinay, had refused to undergo TIP.

Police have invoked the stringent charges of attempt to murder and destruction of evidence against the accused. Investigators had earlier pressed charges against them under sections 365 (kidnapping or abducting), 376 (2)(g) (gang rape), 377 (unnatural offences), 394 (hurting in committing robbery) and 34 (common intention) of IPC.

(With additional information from PTI)

Also See

• Delhi gangrape: Yuvraj Singh dedicates man-of-the-match award to victim
• Delhi gangrape: Protests continue across India, have you joined yet?
• Have they been caught, asks victim

(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)