The body of the 23-year-old para-medical student who succumbed to serious body and brain injuries on Saturday morning at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore, will be flown back to India on Saturday.
TCA Raghavan, the Indian High Commissioner to Singapore, said that the mortal remains will be brought back after completion of formalities, including her death certificate, in a chartered Indian plane that is expected to reach Singapore at around 1 p.m. IST. HE said "Once they are done, the body will be flown back," PTI quoted him.
In his tribute to the victim of the vicious rape and assault, Raghavan expressed his condolences to the family members. He also added that the girl was provided with the best medical attention at Mount Elizabeth Hospital. He said, "I thank the Singapore government and the Mount Elizabeth Hospital (for all the help)," PTI quoted him as saying. He added, "All possible medical efforts were made to treat the injuries. The efforts were not successful in helping her to overcome the injuries."
Raghavan said that he had passed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's condolence message to the family. The Prime Minister, in a message to the people of India, stated that adequate measures will be taken to make the country a safer place for women. He also added that the high commission received numerous condolences from various quarters including the Singapore government.
He declined to give details of the deceased and said that the family has requested privacy in their time of grief.
The girl was raped and assaulted by six men, including the driver, in a private bus on December 16. Her condition was serious throughout the treatment at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi and later at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore.
