Delhi Gang rape victim kin happy over US bravery award

The family of the Delhi gang rape victim on Tuesday said it was happy that the girl's courage has been acknowledged by the United States which has selected her for a bravery award.

"She is truly deserving of the award and we are happy that her courage and bravery has been acknowledged," the victim's brother told PTI on phone from Delhi.

The brother said they had received a phone call from the US embassy two days ago after which three officials came to their residence in Delhi and took all the details about his sister.

The International Women of Courage Award would be presented posthumously by US First Lady Michelle Obama and the Secretary of State John Kerry on March 8, which is celebrated as International Women's Day.

To a question, the brother said the family had not yet decided who will go to receive the award and a formal invitation is also awaited. Announcing the award, the US state department said in a statement, "For millions of Indian women, her personal ordeal, perseverance to fight for justice, and her family's continued bravery is helping to lift the stigma and vulnerability that drive violence against women".

She bravely recorded two police statements while in the hospital, repeatedly called for justice against the six attackers, and stated her will to survive to see justice done, the US State Department said.

The paramedical student was brutally raped and assaulted by six persons in a moving bus in New Delhi on December 16 last year and she succumbed to injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29.