The father of the 23-year-old gang-rape victim wants her daughter’s name to be made public so that she could be an inspiration to other victims of sexual assault.
Her father Badri Singh Pandey has given the permission to reveal her name: Jyoti Singh Pandey.
“I am proud of her. Revealing her name will give courage to other women who have survived these attacks. They will find strength from my daughter.”
Badri along with his family has been living in his ancestral village of Billia in Uttar Pradesh ever since the gruesome incident.
They have retreated there to grieve away from their Delhi home – a place that will constantly remind them of the barbaric sexual attack on his only daughter Jyoti, 23, and her friend, who survived the attack.
Recalling the night of horror, Badri said: “When I first saw her she was on the bed with her eyes closed. I put my hand on her forehead and called her name. She slowly opened her eyes and started crying and said she was in pain. I held my tears. I told her not to worry, have strength and everything will be all right.”
Clearly denying that Jyoti’s friend who was with her when the attack took place, Awindra, was not her boyfriend, Badri said he is just a very brave friend who tried to save her. There was no question of her marrying because we belong to different castes.” “Moreover, she never expressed a desire to marry. She was concentrating on her studies and wanted a job first,” he added.