Gang rape victim flown to Singapore

She was admitted in "extremely critical condition" to the intensive care unit of the Mount Elizabeth hospital, renowned for its multi-organ transplant facilities.

Indian Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said that the government, which is overseeing and paying for her treatment, had taken doctors' advice to send her abroad.

"Despite the best efforts of our doctors, the victim continues to be critical and her fluctuating health remains a big cause of concern to all of us," he said.

The government is also paying for her family members to accompany her during the treatment.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pledged that his government would take drastic action to protect the nation's women.

But the government response has so far been merely to set up two committees in response to the nationwide protests.

One, looking into speeding up sexual assault trials, has already received 6,100 email suggestions.

The second will examine what lapses might have contributed to the rape - which took place on a moving bus that passed through police checkpoints - and suggest measures to improve women's safety.

"Let me state categorically that the issue of safety and security of women is of the highest concern to our government," Mr Singh claimed.

"There can be no meaningful development without the active participation of half the population, and this participation simply cannot take place if their security and safety is not assured," he said.

Meanwhile, police in riot gear manned barricades across the streets of central New Delhi in a show of force ahead of another planned protest march expected tomorrow.

Daily protests have shut down the centre of the capital for days since the rape and police have quelled some of the demonstrations with tear gas, water cannon and baton charges.

One police officer died on Tuesday after collapsing from a heart attack during a weekend protest.