Women bailed over court lynching

By Zubair Ahmed
BBC correspondent in Bombay

The five were among more than a dozen women and children held

Five women allegedly involved in the lynching of a man standing trial for rape in the Indian city of Nagpur have been given bail.

The judge accepted their application amid protests by hundreds of women who threatened not to leave the court until the demand was met.

The five were among more than a dozen women and children arrested after the lynching on Friday.

Rape suspect Akku Yadav died of stab wounds after being attacked by the mob.

'Victory celebration'

The women and children were arrested a day after the lynching incident.

On Tuesday, they were brought to court, where their bail plea was rejected, and they were remanded in custody for another day.

If they cannot protect women we have to protect ourselves Court protestor V Chandra

But a crowd of 400 women and more than 100 men and children gathered in court in support of them.

The mob said they would not move until the women were granted bail.

A stand-off lasted for several hours before the judiciary bowed to pressure.

One protester, V Chandra, told the BBC they were planning a big victory celebration in Nagpur.

She said that she did not think supporting those accused of murder was a crime.

Ms Chandra argued that the lynching was justified.

Supporters gather in Nagpur to demand bail for the women

She said the idea was to teach the country's ineffective judicial system a lesson.

"If they cannot protect women we have to protect ourselves."

On Friday, a group of frenzied women and children forced their way into the courtroom where the alleged rapist, Akku Yadav, was being tried.

The mob attacked Mr Yadav with a knife before escaping. Police admit they were caught unawares.

They said they had thrown a security cordon around Mr Yadav last week after a crowd of angry women jeered him as he arrived in court.

Mr Yadav is said to have been infamous in Nagpur for molesting women.

He faced 24 cases of molestation and rape.