India police arrest last of five wanted in gang-rape case

Police escort a suspect in the Mumbai gang-rape of a female photojournalist after his appearance in court today. AFP pic, August 25, 2013.

Mumbai police Sunday arrested the fifth and final member of a gang suspected of raping a photographer, a crime that reignited anger about women's safety in India following a similar attack last year.

The latest arrest came as the victim's family urged the nation, including the media, to continue to fight for justice "for all those victims and their families" who have gone through "the same hell as we have".

The family said it was "optimistic" their daughter's case would be fast -tracked and the "severest of punishments" handed down to those responsible, because of ongoing campaigns and a tougher sex crime law introduced earlier this year.

"This will ensure that even the most sick-minded think twice before they act in such an inhuman and insensitive way," it said in a statement.

The group allegedly trapped and repeatedly raped the woman, said to be in her early 20s, on Thursday in an abandoned mill in an upmarket district of central Mumbai, where she was on assignment for a magazine.

The attack rekindled memories of the fatal gang-rape of a 23-year-old student in New Delhi in December. That crime sparked nationwide protests and brought to the surface seething anger about violence against women in India.

The outrage led to a tougher anti-rape law that included increased punishment for sex offenders, who face the death penalty if a victim dies, and a broader definition of sexual assault.

On Sunday a Mumbai police team arrested the fifth suspect in New Delhi over the brutal attack in which the woman's male colleague was allegedly tied up with a belt and the woman attacked nearby.

"Our crime branch team arrested the fifth suspect from New Delhi earlier Sunday and he is being brought back to Mumbai," a police official, who did not want to be named, told AFP.

The woman, reportedly an intern, is undergoing treatment at Mumbai's Jaslok Hospital, where staff said she was steadily improving.

"She is eating normally and her medical parameters are in control," the acting head of the hospital said in a statement.

The fifth suspect was tracked down after the arrest of four others since Friday, all in Mumbai. One arrested early on Sunday was identified by the Press Trust of India as Kasim Bangali.

Two of the suspects, their faces covered by black cloth, were remanded in police custody until August 30 after appearing in a Mumbai court on Sunday. On Saturday, two other suspects were also remanded in police custody.

The attack, which dismayed a city seen as far safer for women than the capital, sparked protests in Mumbai and uproar in the national parliament.

The woman was attacked while she was taking photos of the abandoned Shakti Mills factory compound next to a fashionable area of apartment and office blocks, shops and restaurants, police said.

They said the victim and her male colleague were approached by some men and told they should not be there, before being attacked.

The woman's family pleaded with the media for privacy as they try to recover from this "nightmarish phase".

"We hope and pray you will empathise and adhere to our humble request while continuing your support for justice, not just for my daughter but for all those victims and families who have gone through the same hell as we have," they said.

The woman was earlier quoted by The Times of India as saying "rape is not the end of life" and she wanted to return to work.

The incident comes eight months after the student was gang-raped in a moving bus in New Delhi, while her male companion was beaten up. She died two weeks later from severe injuries.

A trial is in its final stages in that case, which sparked massive and sometimes violent protests.

It prompted soul- searching about whether India can protect its women, in a country where fear of social stigma, a hostile police reaction and an inadequate judicial process mean many sexual assaults go unreported.

Since the December incident, dozens of rapes of women - including foreign tourists - have been highlighted in the media. - AFP, August 25, 2013.

Waytha determined to stay in government, calls on minister to help Indian community

Two Umno ministers have warned him to follow the government line but P. Waythamoorthy (pic) is not backing down.

Waythamoorthy has little to lose in making his stand because if he is kicked out of Cabinet, he will be given the credibility he does not have in the Indian community.

Today he asked if crime should be tackled by shooting all gangsters.

“Every major town in the west coast, I am sure has several gangs and probably as many members as in Penang. That is a large and disturbing number. Is anyone suggesting we shoot off all these wayward youngsters to clean the streets of crime?" he questioned in a statement.

Labelling it a crisis in the Indian community, the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department said there was a need for urgent and positive intervention, adding that a memorandum of understanding had been signed between the Barisan Nasional and Hindraf before the elections for a 5-year blueprint for the advancement of the Indian community.

He called on his critics in the Cabinet to work with him to solve the problems of Indian youths involved in crime rather than call for his ouster from the government.

Waythamoorthy said Putrajaya needed to address the root cause of the issue, which was a symptom of socio-economic malaise affecting the Indian community.

"In my discussions with the Prime Minister, I had it made very clear that my role is to deliver comprehensive and permanent solutions to the longstanding socio-economic problems of the Indian community and nothing else. I have chosen to come into government primarily for this purpose," he said in a statement today.

Over the weekend, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Defence Minister Datuk Hishamuddin Hussein told the former Hindraf leader to quit his Cabinet position after the deputy minister had questioned the police shooting of five alleged gang members in Penang last Monday.

"In the war against crime, there should be no quarter given to criminals," Ahmad Zahid said.

Hishammuddin told him to “think rationally before making statements now that he is in government".

The five shot dead – J. Gobinath, 31, R. Ramesh, 27, N. Rakan, 25, M. Suresh, 25, and M. Gobinath, 21 – were believed to be linked to nine shooting cases this year, according to police.

They were in an apartment in Sungai Nibong when the police moved in.

Waythamoorthy, explaining the reason he spoke out on the shooting, said it may have resulted in the five being taken off the streets, but did nothing to solve rising crime.

He noted that at the funeral of one of those who died that day, the newspapers reported about 800 Indian youths, many purportedly 04 gang members, were in the procession.

He added that it was also reported that the director of criminal investigations (CID) Bukit Aman, Hadi Ho Abdullah, said police records of known gang members revealed that 71% were Indians.

In April, Waythamoorthy, on behalf of Hindraf, had signed a 5-year blueprint with the government to bring the Indian poor into the mainstream of national development.

"When realised, it will certainly help wean these wayward Indian youth from crime and into productive economic activity. That will really be a win-win approach. I have chosen to come into government primarily for this purpose," he stressed.

He pointed to a study done by ACP Amar Singh Sidhu titled "the rise of crime in Malaysia", which said the main cause of the violent crime and gang-related activities was urban poverty.

In the study, Amar noted that Indians in urban squatter areas had developed a sub-culture alienating them from mainstream Malaysian society. This subculture mindset was besieged by hopelessness, was captive to low self-esteem, and low self image coupled with the lack of opportunities to pursue education and employment.

"I make this call again to the Home Minister to work with me in a holistic manner to address this complex problem through the implementation of the plans in the 5-year blueprint," he said. - August 26, 2013.

Waytha: Shall we shoot all gangsters to end crime?

The Indian community is facing a crisis in rising gangsterism, and violence is not the answer said Deputy Minister in Prime Minister's Department P Waythamoorthy.

"Every major town on the west coast, I am sure has several gangs and probably as many members as in Penang. That is a large and disturbing number.

"Is anyone suggesting we shoot off all these wayward youngsters to clean the streets of crime?" said Waythamoorthy (left) in a statement today.

He was responding to criticism of his earlier statement against the recent shooting of five youths in in Sungei Nibong, Penang.

"That particular episode may have taken the five off the streets in the way it did, but will it really solve the problem of crime?" he asked.

He acknowledged the police's remark on Saturday that the Indian community was facing a serious threat in rising gansterism.

"At the funeral procession of one of those who died that day, the newspapers reported about 800 Indian (Malaysian) youths many purportedly 04 gang members in the procession.

"Yesterday it was reported that the director of criminal investigations (CID) Bukit Aman Hadi Ho Abdullah (left) said the police records of known gang members revealed that 71 percent were Indian.

"There is a crisis within the Indian community. We need urgent and positive intervention to stop the slide," said Waythamoorthy.
Told off twice

Last week Waythamoorthy, who is also Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia (PHM) chief, was told off by Home Minister Zahid Hamidi for criticising the Nibong Tebal shootings.

“If you like to criticise the police, if you like to give negative comments to the police, please resign and lead your own NGO. Be the NGO leader," the home minister said on Saturday alluding to the PHM leader.

Today Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein backed Zahid's call saying the latter was "101 per cent correct".

Waythamoorthy defended himself saying the problem of gangsterism was "multi faceted" and only symptomatic of a larger problem, the socio-economic malaise affecting the Indian community

"Shooting these youths is shooting at the most visible portion jutting above the water, but which is only a very small fraction of the problem," he said.

"30 years ago the statistics would have read very differently – there were nowhere near these numbers of Indian youth involved in crime.

"They have come about as a direct result of the massive forced displacement of estate workers into the urban areas beginning circa 1980s."

He repeated his call for the home minister to work with him to find a "holistic" solution by implementing the blueprint that PHM signed with Prime Minister Najib Razak before the general election.

Waytha caught between devil and deep blue sea

YOURSAY 'Waytha, you are a real idiot since you thought you could change the system. The system is insisting you change.'

Zahid advises Waytha to toe gov't line

 

Rahman Putih: It is refreshing to hear an unconventional stand taken by Deputy Minister in the PM's Department P Waythamoorthy within the BN administration.

PDRM (Royal Malaysia Police) has been providing flimsy justification with over 22 suspicious killing since April this year.

The call for an inquest is necessary to ensure impartiality is maintained rather than pandering to PDRM's reckless attitude like how the home minister is acting in this instance.

Kingfisher: One can well imagine that PM Najib Razak had a good reason to invite Waythamoorthy's to join his administration.

It would seem from Waythamoorthy's cautionary reference to the unfortunate incident that he has not necessarily challenged government policy but has expressed some reservation on the modality of police action.

The IGP (inspector-general of police) has made a statement clarifying that PDRM's SOP (standard operating procedures) were adhered to in this instance.

Some of us are prepared to acknowledge the IGP. Waythamoorthy may have been indiscrete on this occasion. Look at many other examples of YBs.

Zahid however seems to enthusiastic if not irrational to demonstrate his power by this "bullying" threat on a newly appointed colleague. It would make the PM look a fool if Waythamoorthy were to resign his position abruptly.

Ruben: Well Waythamoorthy, you deserve it. If you say anything that your Umno masters don't like, you need to shut up.

After all, you decided to be subservient to them. So put your tail between your legs and act like an obedient boy.

Gods Messenger: Come on, Zahid, you must also look up at Waytha's position and as a deputy minister. The blueprint was signed between Najib and Waytha.

Waytha is still the leader of Hindraf. It was Persatuan Hindraf's Waytha that signed the blueprint with the PM. Please respect and give face to the PM who put Waytha as deputy minister in his department.

He is only voicing out what he feels. He can't keep quiet too. You must be fair to him. The marginal Indians are waiting for their leader to say something and not just keep quiet.
Please put yourself in his shoes and you will understand it better. Voicing out is not contradicting government policy.

A Selangor Voter: Waytha, you are a real idiot since you thought you could change the system. The system is insisting you change. Imagine, you were asking the Indians to give Najib a two-thirds majority.

SS Dhaliwal: So Zahid are you acknowledging that Waytha was brought over as a cabinet minister to silence him and Hindraf? By the way, what is government policy?

To be unquestionable on any issue even on police shootouts involving innocent civilians and/or criminals followed by the standard explanation of self-defence and denials?

Waytha is now learning the hard way that his ideals is never going to be implemented nor taken seriously by Umno. He is clearly a misguided politician under illusions of grandeur or is his personal agenda already been met?

Son of PJ: What the majority of Malaysiakini commenters are saying here is that Hindraf had lost the moment when it could have made an even bigger impact if did not join ranks with the time-tested corrupted BN regime.

Oh well, you know what they say about spilled milk.

I cannot just be an observer, Waytha tells Zahid

 

Shanandoah: If the government really wants to help the Indian community they must set up an Indian Economic Policy like the NEP and leave it in the hands of the community to deal with the matter.

The community has been marginalised far too long. We are seeing the result now. The community is being destroyed beyond repair.

Robert Lim: A genuine leader is a molder of consensus not an antagonist. With such a leader like Waytha at helm for the Indian community, we may see the renaissance of the Indian community after all.

 

Mamadias: It's not about just MIC or Waytha. It's about a segment of the society within the Indian community that needs help in the long-term so that we do not have young Indians boys whom are marginalised and become victims of poverty.

But in the short-term, we need to deal with real issue, which is the hardcore criminal gangs that have become extremely violent. So we need to hit back hard, and in the long-term create a programme that will uplift the economic well being of the society.

It's better to let the police do their job while politicians and the elite members of the society work behind the scene with the community to ensure a long-term sustainable programme is created.

Onyourtoes: Waytha, please don't simply make claims; you are no leader of the poor and marginalised Indian community any more. You are no serious observer either; you are a non-consequential observer.

’71% gang members Indian because of racial profiling’

PKR vice-president N Surendran says since Indians only make up seven percent of the population, we have a national crisis if the number is accurate.

PETALING JAYA: The police’s announcement that 71 percent of gang members in Malaysia are Indians had been met with disbelief and had triggered allegations that the men in blue are practising racial-profiling.

PKR vice-president N Surendran said in a statement today the figure was inconceivable given that Indians make up only seven percent of the population.

“If this figure is true, it is nothing short of a national crisis involving the Indian community. If true, why has this astonishing figure not been revealed to the public earlier?” he asked.

He said PKR believed that the high figure could be due to the police and other enforcement officers’ targeting ethnic Indian in their operations.

Surendran thus, demanded that the government set up an independent inquiry to determine if the law enforcers were indeed racial profiling ethnic Indian.

“If there is such a practice, it could lead to harassment, unlawful arrests and breaches of fundamental rights. More dangerously, it could also result in callous treatment of the detainees while in police custody. Francis Udayappan, Kugan, Sugumar, Darmendran, Karunanithi were some of the Indian detainees who died while in custody while recently, five young Indians were shot by the police in Penang,” said the Padang Serai MP.

However, police had said the five were gang members linked to at least 10 murders, and that four of them had multiple criminal records for drug offences, causing hurt using a weapon, and rioting.

Surendran had also claimed that the majority of those arrested in the ongoing Ops Cantas were Malaysian Indians.

Makkal Sakti aims to change youths mindset

Party president R.S Thanenthiran said young people need to realise that politics is not something "dirty".

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) will focus on political transformation among the younger generation in the hope of moulding them as effective leaders within culturally diverse communities.

Party founder and president, R.S. Thanenthiran said there was also a need to change the mindsets of young people that politics was not something “dirty” and ensure that more of them would support Barisan Nasional.

“We should mould them to suit our leadership capacity building to achieve goals such as creating a progressive Indian community by 2020,” he sad.

Thanenthiran noted that political transformation of youth would be among the agenda at the party’s annual general meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre here today to be attended by about 1,200 delegates and observers.

Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor is scheduled to open the AGM.

Other issues to be touched at the PWTC gathering are building Sekolah Menengah Tamil in states with high Indian population, helping pupils at Tamil schools and owning a 20-storey building for the party.

-Bernama

Another minister tells Waytha to go if he can’t toe the line

 

Hishammuddin escorting Hagel to their meeting today. The Malaysian Insider 

pic by Nazir Sufari, August 25, 2013.

The Defence Minister has joined a growing chorus calling on Deputy Minister P Waythamoorthy to resign from his Cabinet position if he wants to act like a representative of a non-governmental organisation.

Echoing Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who made the same call yesterday, Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein said Waythamoorthy, the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, should think rationally before making statements now that he is in government..

“Being emotional on it is not the right way of a leader. I support Datuk Zahid….101 percent. As Cabinet ministers we have to be responsible.

“We cannot place our personal political interest above the collective interest of the government,” he said after meeting US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel in Kuala Lumpur today.

Ahmad Zahid had told the former Hindraf leader to quit his Cabinet position after Waythamoorthy had questioned the police shooting of five alleged gang members.

"In the war against crime, there should be no quarter given to criminals," Ahmad Zahid had said.

Waythamoorthy had said he will not be silent on issues just because he is in the government.

"In fact, it is to the advantage of the government that I voice out the true sentiments of the people on the ground so that I can contribute positively to the objectives and good governance of the government," he had said in a statement after the shooting last Monday.

The five who were killed – J. Gobinath, 31, R. Ramesh, 27, N. Rakan, 25, M. Suresh, 25, and M. Gobinath, 21, - were shot dead by police during a raid as they were believed to be linked to nine out of 19 shooting cases this year.

They were in an apartment in Sungai Nibong when the police party moved in.

The families of the dead have lodged four police reports demanding an inquest into their deaths.

Yesterday, several Malay non-governmental organisations called on the former Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader to leave the government if he wanted to speak against it.

Right-wing Malay NGO Perkasa said the chairman of Hindraf should make private inquiries about the incident rather than doubt the credibility of the police force.

“Our security forces are scrambling to reduce the public’s ire towards the increasing number of armed criminals but Waythamoorthy here is questioning the actions of our forces,” said Datuk Zulkifli Noordin, who is Perkasa vice- president.

“We do not deny his right to fight for the Indian community but he needs to know his position. If he still wants to have the mentality of an NGO leader, it is best that he resigns and focuses on building the Indian community,” he told the Umno-owned Malay daily, Utusan Malaysia.

Another group known as Tolak Individu Bernama Anwar Ibrahim (TIBAI) also asked the deputy minister to respect the police.

The group’s adviser, Muhammad Zahid Md Arip, said Waythamoorthy is looking at criminal activities from a very narrow scope and as such he should be dropped from the Cabinet.

“This is not a race issue but it is about national and public security. I urge the prime minister to remove Waythamoorthy from his position,” he added.

Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) president Azwanddin Hamzah cautioned Waythamoorthy from acting so quickly on his own to defend the Indians.

“Criminals are still criminals and the police know what they are doing. He should have discussed this first instead of impulsively releasing a statement,” Azwanddin was quoted as saying. - August 25, 2013.