Rather cold response to Kaala Divas

Protesters at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi observed Kaala Divas on Thursday, demanding speedy justice for the 23-year-old woman who was gang-raped and brutally assaulted on the night of December 16.

Though the Delhi police filed a charge sheet against five of the accused in a fast-track court on Thursday, the dwindling number of protesters kept demanding a more agile police force so that such incidents do not recur.

The day saw police officers requesting protesters to call off their protests. Jasbeer Malik, assistant commissioner, tried to convince two protesters, who have been on an indefinite hunger strike, to give it up. “The legal process has started. Police have filed the charge sheet. And the judgment is expected soon,” Malik said.

Rajesh Gangwar and Babu Singh from Uttar Pradesh have been on a hunger strike, demanding justice for the 23-year-old. “It is not a matter of for one victim. We are sitting here for a systemic overhaul,” Gangwar said.

Pooja Arora, a Delhi University student, said rapes have been happening even after these protests. “Those who are doing it are not afraid of the law,” Arora said.

Shruti Kohli who spearheaded the Kaala Divas campaign said her group would work with resident welfare associations to sensitise people on gender issues.

The Mumbai story: The Kaala Divas campaign did not kick off in the city in a big way.

Only a handful of women chose to dress themselves in black. The reason: lack of awareness. Most people did not even have an inkling about the Kaala Divas campaign.