DNA Micro Edit: Justice for Nirbhaya but no respite for women yet

The entire country is hailing the Supreme Court for upholding the capital punishment handed to Nirbhaya's rapists. The accused did not deserve any mercy for the demonic act which devastated not just her family, but the entire nation. But even as we go celebrating the verdict, the ground reality is different, and disturbing.

Delhi continues to be an unsafe city, with no decline in rape, molestation, and crimes against women.

The December 16, 2012, gang rape triggered a public outcry and the government issued amendments in the law relating to crimes against women, making it more stringent.

While the laws are now tougher, the mindset of the cops who always view the victim with suspicion remains unchanged.

A large number of cases go unreported for fear of a long-drawn out judicial process, and many of the victims opt to not seek justice rather than to relive the trauma and be subjected to salacious questions, first by the police and then by the defense counsel in public, in court.

It, however, doesn't take away the historic stance taken by the apex court. It is definitely a victory for Nirbhaya's family and for the cops who probed the case and made it solid enough to withstand the defense. Most of all, it is a triumphant moment for the girl whose life was brutally snuffed out by a group of monsters high on arrogance and bestiality who thought they could get away with it.

But this is just the beginning, we cannot let our guard down in the fight for a secure India for women.