6 Charged With Murder in Death of Indian Rape Victim
Indians hold candles as they mourn the death of a gang rape victim in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012.
Indian authorities have charged six men with murder, following the death of a student who was brutally gang-raped earlier this month on a bus in New Delhi.
Police say the men could face the death penalty if convicted.
The 23-year-old woman died early Saturday of severe organ failure at a hospital in Singapore. She underwent multiple surgeries in New Delhi before being flown to Singapore Thursday for special treatment.
News of her death prompted thousands of people to stage peaceful protests in the Indian capital, despite tight security to prevent mass demonstrations. The protesters demanded justice for the victim and safety for women.
New Delhi has been rocked by mass protests since the woman was attacked December 16.
Demonstrators also mourned her death with protests Saturday in Mumbai and Bangalore.
India Mourns Gang Rape Victim
1/12Sand artist Raj Kapoor holds a candle near a sculpture at the Sangam to pay tribute to a gang rape victim who died early Saturday, in Allahabad, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012.
News of the death of a 23-year-old gang rape victim prompted thousands of people to stage peaceful protests throughout India Saturday, despite tight security to prevent mass demonstrations. The protesters demanded justice for the victim and safety for women.
2/12An Indian ties a black band as he arrives to attend a gathering to mourn the death of a 23-year-old gang rape victim, in Mumbai, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012.
News of the death of a 23-year-old gang rape victim prompted thousands of people to stage peaceful protests throughout India Saturday, despite tight security to prevent mass demonstrations. The protesters demanded justice for the victim and safety for women.
3/12An Indian woman shouts at a police officer during a gathering of people to mourn the death of the 23-year-old gang rape victim in Mumbai, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012.
News of the death of a 23-year-old gang rape victim prompted thousands of people to stage peaceful protests throughout India Saturday, despite tight security to prevent mass demonstrations. The protesters demanded justice for the victim and safety for women.
4/12Indian women participate in a candle-lit vigil in New Delhi to mourn the death of a gang rape victim, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012.
News of the death of a 23-year-old gang rape victim prompted thousands of people to stage peaceful protests throughout India Saturday, despite tight security to prevent mass demonstrations. The protesters demanded justice for the victim and safety for women.
5/12A demonstrator shouts slogans during a protest in New Delhi, December 29, 2012.
News of the death of a 23-year-old gang rape victim prompted thousands of people to stage peaceful protests throughout India Saturday, despite tight security to prevent mass demonstrations. The protesters demanded justice for the victim and safety for women.
6/12Indian men and women lie down on the ground mimicking dead bodies as they mourn the death of a gang rape victim in New Delhi, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012.
News of the death of a 23-year-old gang rape victim prompted thousands of people to stage peaceful protests throughout India Saturday, despite tight security to prevent mass demonstrations. The protesters demanded justice for the victim and safety for women.
7/12Indians gather next to a makeshift memorial to mourn the death of a 23-year-old gang rape victim, in Bangalore, India , Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012.
News of the death of a 23-year-old gang rape victim prompted thousands of people to stage peaceful protests throughout India Saturday, despite tight security to prevent mass demonstrations. The protesters demanded justice for the victim and safety for women.
8/12A man participates in a candle-lit vigil to mourn the death of a gang rape victim in New Delhi, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012.
News of the death of a 23-year-old gang rape victim prompted thousands of people to stage peaceful protests throughout India Saturday, despite tight security to prevent mass demonstrations. The protesters demanded justice for the victim and safety for women.
9/12An Indian woman holds a placard as she joins others in a protest to mourn the death of the 23-year-old gang rape victim, in Bangalore, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012.
News of the death of a 23-year-old gang rape victim prompted thousands of people to stage peaceful protests throughout India Saturday, despite tight security to prevent mass demonstrations. The protesters demanded justice for the victim and safety for women.
10/12People walk near a sand sculpture with the words "We Want Justice" created by Indian sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik, in solidarity with a gang rape victim who was assaulted in New Delhi, on a beach in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, December 29, 2012.
News of the death of a 23-year-old gang rape victim prompted thousands of people to stage peaceful protests throughout India Saturday, despite tight security to prevent mass demonstrations. The protesters demanded justice for the victim and safety for women.
11/12Indian women participate in a candle-lit vigil to mourn the death of a gang rape victim in New Delhi, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012.
News of the death of a 23-year-old gang rape victim prompted thousands of people to stage peaceful protests throughout India Saturday, despite tight security to prevent mass demonstrations. The protesters demanded justice for the victim and safety for women.
12/12A girl holds a placard as she takes part in a protest rally in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, December 29, 2012.
News of the death of a 23-year-old gang rape victim prompted thousands of people to stage peaceful protests throughout India Saturday, despite tight security to prevent mass demonstrations. The protesters demanded justice for the victim and safety for women.
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Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he is "deeply saddened" by the woman's death. He said the emotions the case has generated are "perfectly understandable."
The woman's body was set to be flown back to India Saturday.
The woman is reported to have been traveling with a male companion on a charter bus in New Delhi when the six men on board beat them both with an iron rod. The woman was raped repeatedly. Reports say a rod was used in the rape, causing some of her internal injuries. She also suffered brain injuries. The woman and her friend were thrown from the moving vehicle.
The male friend survived the attack. Neither the woman nor her friend has been identified.
Many rapes in India go unreported. India's government has been criticized for being slow to understand the outrage that followed the incident, in a country where crimes against women are growing, and where police figures show that rape is among the fastest growing crimes.
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