Delhi gangrape: Police use water cannons to disperse protesters outside CM's house

New Delhi: The police on Wednesday used water cannons to disperse the crowd protesting outside Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's house against the gangrape of a 23-year-old student's gangrape. The protestors continued to agitate and said any action by the police will not deter them from protesting.

One of the protesters called it 'irresponsible' on the part of the police and the Delhi government to have used water cannons. Many protesters also brock barricades and tried to enter Sheila Dikshit's house.

The protestors, over 50 in numbers, moved to the road and continued to protest. They also shouted slogans against the Delhi government. Reports say many of the protestors were students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University.

This came as the 23-year-old medical student continued to fight for her life. Doctors treating her say some of her vital organs have been permenantly damaged and she's suffering from a blood infection. She has been on ventilator support now for over 60 hours now. A medical bulletin is expected on Wednesday evening.

Four people, including the prime accused, have been arrested. Bus driver Ram Singh has been sent to five-day custody. Police say all six accused will now be charged with attempt to murder. Two accused, though, are still absconding.

Earlier, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde met top Delhi Police officials on Wednesday to discuss ways to prevent such crimes from occurring again at the meeting. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Shinde said that it has been decided that tinted glasses and curtains will be removed from buses. "In the review meeting with the police officers and transport officers, it was decided that there shall be immediate crackdown on all vehicles with tinted glasses and impounded. All public transport vehicles will have keep the lights inside the vehicle on while on roads," Shinde said. On Tuesday, at a press conference, the Delhi Police Commissioner said that the curtains of the bus hid the crime.

The driver's number and licence will be displayed on the bus. Shinde also said that all buses will have GPS installed in them for the police to track them. "The Delhi Police shall undertake verification of drivers, staff of buses and if buses are operated by unverified staff they will face action," Shinde added.

Shinde said that it will be inquired as to why no PCR van stooped the bus. "PCRs are in the corner and every hour they carry out a patrol. It will be inquired why the bus wasn't stopped," Shinde said.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj once again called for a death sentence for the culprits in the case within 30 days. "This case should be held in a fast-track court and come to the decision to hang the guilty in 30 days," she said.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has called meeting of all women groups in Delhi at 6 pm on Wednesday. "I want a consensus among all political parties on whether the Delhi Police and law and order should be under the Delhi government," Dikshit told CNN-IBN.

This comes hours after Congress President Sonia Gandhi sent letters to Shinde and Dikshit seeking immediate action. Sonia Gandhi also visited the victim's family at Safdarjung Hospital late on Tuesday night and inquired about the victim's health.