A young woman who was gang-raped and assaulted on a moving bus in the Indian capital was flown Thursday to a Singapore hospital for treatment of severe internal injuries that could last several weeks, officials said.

The 23-year-old student, who is in critical condition, arrived in Singapore on an air ambulance and was admitted to the Mount Elizabeth hospital, renowned for multi-organ transplant facilities.

The hospital said in a statement that she was admitted to the intensive care unit "in an extremely critical condition." It said "she is being examined and the hospital is working with the Indian High Commission (embassy)."

The Dec. 16 rape of the woman and her brutal beating triggered widespread protests in New Delhi and other parts of the country and calls for the death penalty for the perpetrators of rape. It is punishable by up to life in prison.

All six suspects in the case have been arrested.

The rape has highlighted the extensive harassment that Indian women face daily in cities and towns, ranging from unwanted hands being placed on them to being blamed for causing the sexual violence. Even rape victims rarely come forward to complain because of the social stigma. Many women say they have structured their entire lives around protecting themselves and their children, and restricting their movements to avoid being molested.

In a written statement, the Indian High Commission, or embassy, said it has received "many offers to help" the woman, who is "receiving full medical attention." Her family is also being provided all assistance‘’ by the embassy, it said.

The nearly daily protests in the heart of New Delhi following the rape have been frequently quelled by police using tear gas and water cannons. One policemen died of injuries suffered in the clashes.

Police said she was traveling with a male friend in a bus when they were attacked by six men who took turns to rape her. The men also beat the couple with iron rods, stripped them of their clothes and threw them off the bus on a road. They were found by bystanders before being rushed to New Delhi‘s Safdarjang Hospital. The bus, which was empty except for the attackers and the couple, drove through the city for hours during the assault, even passing through police checkpoints.

Press Trust of India quoted hospital medical superintendent, B.D. Athani, as saying Wednesday night that the woman suffered severe intestinal and abdominal injuries. She underwent three surgeries and parts of her intestines were removed, he said.

He said the Indian government, "based on the advice of a team of doctors,"made arrangements for her to be shifted to Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth hospital because it has state of the art multi-organ transplant facilities. Also, the travel time of 5 { hours from New Delhi was considered less arduous.

"With fortitude and courage, the (woman) survived the aftereffects of the injuries so far well. But the condition continues to be critical," he was quoted as saying. "The treatment (in Singapore) might take longer."

The woman was on ventilator support during the 10 days she was at Safdarjang Hospital.

Press Trust of India said the Indian government will bear all expenses of the woman‘s treatment. Doctors have described her as ``psychologically composed and optimistic about future.’‘

It said her condition worsened late Wednesday after her pulse plummeted briefly, and that periodic bouts of infection were also a source of concern. (AFP)



<관련 한글 기사>


버스안에서 단체 성폭행당한 여성, 해외로

인도의 젊은 여성이 이동 중인 버스 안에서 폭력 조직에게 잔인하게 성폭행을 당해 치료를 위해 싱가폴로 옮겨졌다. 장기 손상을 입었으며 수 주의 치료가 필요한 것으로 드러났다.

해당 23세 여학생은 마운트엘리자베스병원(Mount Elizabeth hospital)으로 옮겨졌다. 병원 측은 상태가 심각하며, 인도 대사관과 협력하고 있다고 전했다.

사건은 12월 16일 발생했으며, 해당 여성은 성폭행과 폭력을 당했다. 이로 인해 뉴델리를 비롯해 인도 전역에서 시위가 일어나고 있으며 가해자 사형을 요구하고 있다. 현행법상 무기징역은 가능한 것으로 드러났다. 가해자 여섯 명은 모두 체포된 상태다. 

많은 인도 여성들이 이러한 폭행에 노출되어 있으나 사회적 편견으로 인해 사건을 신고하지 않는 경향이 있어 보호를 제대로 받지 못한다고 한다. 여성들은 평생에 걸쳐 스스로를 지키기 위해 활동범위를 제한하며 여러가지 노력을 기울인다.

이번 사건의 피해 여성과 가족들은 전격적인 도움을 받고 있다고 인도 대사관이 전했다.

인도 수도 뉴델리의 중심에서 벌어지는 성폭행 사건은 보통 경찰의 최루가스나 물대포에 의해 진압된다. 충돌 상황에서 입은 부상으로 경찰이 사망한 적도 있다.

해당 여성은 남성인 친구와 버스를 타고 여행 중이었다. 가해자 여섯 명은 차례로 그녀를 성폭행했으며 두 사람에게 폭력을 행사한 뒤 거리 위로 내몰았다.
 
두 사람은  곧 행인들에게 발견되어 뉴델리의 사프다르장병원(Safdarjang Hospital)으로 옮겨졌다. 당시 버스에는 가해자 여섯 명과 피해자 두 명 밖에 없었으며 폭행이 일어나는 몇 시간 동안 버스는 시내를 달렸다. 경찰의 검문소도 통과했다.

인도통신사(Press Trust of India)는 수요일 병원 관리자 B.D.아타니(B.D.Athani)의 말을 인용해 피해 여성에 심각한 복부 장기 손상이 있었으며 세 번의 수술 끝에 몇몇 장기가 드러내어졌다고 전했다.

피해 여성은 장기 이식 전문 병원인 싱가폴의 마운트엘리자베스병원으로 옮겨졌다. 의료진은 그녀의 의지와 용기로 지금까지 잘 견뎌오고 있지만 상태는 여전히 심각하다며 치료기간이 길어질 것으로 내다봤다.

PTI는 인도 정부가 여성의 모든 치료비용을 부담할 것이라고 전했다. 의료진은 그녀가 심리적으로 평온하며 미래를 긍정적으로 내다보고 있다고 말했다.

피해 여성은 아직도 심장박동수가 급격히 떨어지는 등의 응급 상황을 겪고 있다. (코리아헤럴드)