Sushil Kumar Shinde cuts short Maharashtra visit, returns to Delhi

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who was in Maharashtra, cut short his visit on Saturday and returned to the national capital in the wake of the death of the Delhi gangrape victim. Shinde, who was expected to attend a public function at Solapur along with President Pranab Mukherjee, cancelled all his engagements there and decided to return, official sources said.

The 23-year-old girl died at a hospital in Singapore early on Saturday morning. The paramedical student, who was airlifted from New Delhi to Singapore on December 26 as her condition showed no signs of improvement even after 10 days of treatment at Safdarjung Hospital, breathed her last at 2.15 am IST due to severe organ failure following serious injuries to her body and brain.

"We are very sad to report that the patient passed away peacefully at 4.45 am on 29 Dec 2012 (Singapore time). Her family and officials from the High Commission of India were by her side. The Mount Elizabeth Hospital team of doctors, nurses and staff join her family in mourning her loss," a press release by Dr Kelvin Loh, Chief Executive Officer, Mount Elizabeth Hospital, said.

In a message to the Delhi braveheart\'s family, Shinde said strictest action will be taken against the guilty.

Shinde has assured that the strictest action will be taken against the guilty. In a message to the family, he said, "A real tribute to her will be to ensure maximum punishment to the culprits. I pledge to work to strengthen the laws and ensure that such an incident never gets repeated again."

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