Rapist in New Delhi gang-rape says victim shouldn’t have fought back

A film-maker behind a new documentary about a fatal gang-rape in India that caused global outrage says one of the men sentenced to death for the killing showed no remorse during a “chilling” interview. Mukesh Singh, one of five people convicted over the 2012 attack in New Delhi, told British film-maker Leslee Udwin from his prison cell that the murdered student should not have been “roam(ing) around at 9 o’clock at night” and that “a girl is far more responsible for rape than a boy”. In 16 hours of interviews for the “India’s Daughter” documentary, Udwin said Singh did not show a second of regret.

What I found when I interviewed him, the most chilling thing that I found, was that I got an insight and understanding into the way he views women and that is what is extremely shocking. Mukesh’s attitude is ‘Why are they making a fuss about us, everybody is doing it’.

Leslee Udwin, director of “India’s Daughter”

The victim’s parents condemned Singh’s comments, which caused outrage on television debates. “What he said is wrong,” her father told the NDTV network. “I have taught my children to stand up for themselves, never give up.” The case sparked much soul-searching about India’s treatment of women, but campaigners say little has changed in the deeply patriarchal country.

Asia-Pacific rape