Woman, 20, gang raped to death by four men who broke her spine and left her to die in agony for two weeks
A 20-year-old woman who was left paralysed after being gang-raped in India by four men has died from her injuries two weeks later.
The victim was assaulted near her home in the city of Hathras, 60 miles south of Delhi on September 14.
She had been cutting grass when she was dragged into a nearby field and attacked by the men.
Authorities refuted reports the girl's tongue was cut out - when in fact she bit down on it while the pervs tried to strangle her.
The woman was being treated in intensive care while on a ventilator after suffering from multiple fractures.
Yesterday, she was moved to a hospital in Delhi before passing away from her injuries.
The four attackers had been arrested and will now be charged with murder, local media reports.
Her brother told : "My sister was found unconscious. They had raped her.
"The police did not help us initially… they did not take quick action. They acted only after four-five days."
Another sibling told BBC Hindi: "She was left for dead. She fought for her life for 14 days."
The family claim police only acted once the attack became a scandal nationwide.
They allege authorities failed to move the 20-year-old to adequate medical facilities - claims which have been denied by officials.
Speaking to reporters, one of the brothers said: "We were told that she would be taken to AIIMS (All India Institute Of Medical Sciences, New Delhi) but she was taken to Safdarjung.
"Her condition was very bad. She was found in the bajra field, without clothes.
"Initially we even wondered if she was bitten by a snake. Three bones on her neck were broken.
"She had difficulty breathing… She needed oxygen right from the beginning."
The Hathras district magistrate said today: "All four accused have been arrested.
"Under the SC/ST Act, her family has been given the financial support of Rs 10 lakh (£11,000), in total."
Cops have denied the family's claims that they did not act fast enough while insisting they will fast track a prosecution.
Police chief Vikrant Vir told NDTV: "This is a very unfortunate incident but we have been proactive in making arrests and helping the family in whatever manner possible.
"I will personally ensure swift investigation and that these men are tried in a fast track court."
The case has sparked protests including a 300-strong group shouting slogans inside the hospital where the woman was treated.
India's rape crisis saw one woman being sexually attacked every 15 minutes on average in 2018, government data shows.
Last year, a woman, 23, was set on fire by a gang of men in Uttar Pradesh as she travelled to court to press rape charges.
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Nearly 34,000 rapes are reported in the country annually despite tough laws introduced in recent years.
Rape and sexual violence has been under the spotlight in India since the 2012 gang rape and murder of a young woman in Delhi, which prompted thousands demanding stricter laws.
Outrage over her death led to legislators passing tough new laws against sexual violence, including the death penalty for rape in some cases.
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Prison sentences for rapists were doubled to as well as well as criminalising voyeurism, stalking and trafficking of women.
Indian MPs also voted to lower the age at which a person can be tried as an adult for heinous crimes to 16 from 18.
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