Four students of grades VII and IX at a Thane school have devised a 'Robotic Sandal' that is fit with devices on the soles that consists of a 5V metallic rivet.

The creators displayed their device to the media and explained that in time of distress if the sandal is hit twice on the ground it activates, triggering a wireless alarm connected to an instrument kept in a handbag, which when set off sends alert SMSs to specified numbers and the location of the victim can be detected. Also if the woman hits the attacker with the sandal it gives him a shock as the rivet is activated.

The student's gadget was shown at a competition in Thane where school-goers had to showcase their scientific gadgets.

The found young inventors were supported in their endeavour by city-based private organisation, Children's Tech Centre, that promotes young talent and scientific activities.

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Four policemen were suspended and another transferred after a 22-year-old went missing and was found gang-raped and killed. The victim's family say the main accused Udivir Singh Yadav of Bahlolpur has not been arrested.

The victim left her home for her factory job and when she did not return till late the family conducted a search and went to the police station where the officer suggested she may have eloped with her boyfriend. The police did not show any interest in locating the missing girl and when the distraught family asked the factory workers they were told they saw her leave at the usual time

The next morning the family received a call saying the girl was lying dead alongside a road and she was half naked.

As a result of their apathy and disinterest four constables have been suspended and one police post in charge R K Rathi has been moved to the police lines after the mother alleged that the police misbehaved with her when she told them her daughter was missing.

A senior police officer confirmed that an autopsy on the girl is expected shortly.

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The Confederation of Indian Industry has set up a task force to delve deeper into the plans of creating a safe environment for women. The task force will be led by past president Subodh Bhargava who will consult civil society, students, women's groups and industry and submit a report to authorities.

The task force will also provide its inputs to the government formed task force that is being chaired by the union home secretary.

The Confederation feels that the emotion the death of the gang-raped student gave rise to should not be allowed to dissipate but rather for all citizens to stand together to create a regime that ensures such heinous crimes are never repeated.

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While denying anticipatory bail to a maulvi who forcibly made a girl marry a married man, a Delhi Court stated that the Holy Quran permits a Muslim man to marry more than one woman at a time, but does not encourage such practices.

The Court observed that even in countries where Sharia law is observed a second marriage is permitted only under special circumstances, and in these cases the first wife's consent is necessary. The practice of polygamy has been regulated or abolished in many Muslim nations and it cannot be encouraged in a liberal democracy like India.

Police say the maulvi Mustafa Raja forcibly made the girl marry Nadeem Khan last year without her consent and in her parents' absence she was raped by her so-called husband.

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Rajesh Gangwar from Bareily, Uttar Pradesh, began his 11th day of fasting to demand the death sentence for the rapists whose attack resulted in the death of the young student in Delhi.

Another hunger striker, Babu Singh from Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh, is on day five of his fast. Both men are staging their protest near the Jantar Mantar observatory in the heart of Delhi.

Scores of other people meanwhile continued their protests at the site to demand stricter legislation to end increasing crime against women in India. The area is guarded by a large number of police and paramilitary personnel, as volunteers distributed warm milk to the protesters.

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