December 16th 2012 - a dark say in history. A date that is forever transfixed in all our minds, unfortunately for the most terrible reason. An innocent girl was raped brutally in the capital city and then left to die. Words fall short when we go back to that incident. Nothing describes the terror that unfolded that night - it was as dark as it gets!

We, a group of photographers, were part of the protests that followed the incident. First the city, then the country, and then a lot of other parts of the world came together to demand justice for Nirbhaya. Such was the intensity of the crime, of the injuries that were inflicted, and the pain caused that it made each one’s blood boil. The protesters, including us, were determined not to take a step back until some severe action was taken against the criminals. People came out in large numbers, all genders and all ages, to fight for their sister, their daughter, their friend, and above all, a human being. We were beaten up by the police, some of us severely injured, but the protest did not come to a halt. Sadly, the fight to make our country safe for women continues even today.

Nirbhaya passed away and the country mourned – for a daughter it had failed!  

December 16th 2012 – a dark day in history indeed. The year has changed but has the situation?

Read More: Cross-Border Observations on Rape in India and South Africa, cover photo by Ravneet Oberoi for the December 16 2012, Rape in Delhi report by Urvashi Bhutalia.

Case Update [Thursday, 14th March, 2013] : The driver (Main Accused) commits suicide in jail.

Case Update [Saturday, 31st August, 2013]: The minor has been sent for juvenile rehab for 3 years, maximum term possible for a juvenile in India. Read more here.

Case Update [Friday, 13th September, 2013]: The rest 4 gets a death sentence.

Case Update [Friday, 20th March, 2020]: All four death row convicts in Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case were hanged.