A rapist currently awaiting execution for the horrifying rape of a woman on a bus in Delhi has blamed his victim for the attack.
The brutal gang-rape hit the headlines in 2012, when 23-year-old Jyoti was assaulted by a group of men as she returned from a trip to the cinema with a male friend.
During her ordeal, Jyoti was raped with metal bars and later died in hospital from internal injuries sustained in the assault.
However, in a shocking interview, Mukesh Singh said that the physiotherapist was responsible for her injuries and subsequent death due to her behaviour on the night in question.
He told the BBC that "a decent girl won't roam around at nine o'clock at night", adding "a girl is far more responsible for rape than a boy. Boys and girls are not equal".
“Housework and housekeeping is for girls, not roaming in discos and bars at night doing wrong things, wearing wrong clothes. About 20 per cent of girls are good.”
Singh has maintained that he was driving the bus and did not take part in the vicious attack but was found guilty and is currently in prison awaiting execution.
The interview was recorded as part of a BBC Four documentary on Jyoti's death, which will be aired on International Women's Day on Sunday March 8th, and also sees Singh argue that the execution of those responsible will only encourage other rapists to kill their victims.
“When being raped, she shouldn't fight back. She should just be silent and allow the rape. Then they'd have dropped her off after doing her and only hit the boy,” he said.
“Now when they rape, they won't leave the girl like we did - they will kill her. Before, they would rape and say, ‘Leave her, she won't tell anyone.’ Now when they rape, especially the criminal types, they will just kill the girl.”
Singh's brother, who was also arrested in connection with the attack, was found dead in his jail cell in 2013, while he and the other three rapists are currently appealing their sentences.
Photo via The Independent
