Indian protesters shout slogans as they march carrying torches near the Presidential Palace in New Delhi on Saturday.(Photo: Altaf Qadri, AP)

Story Highlights

  • Hundreds demonstrating against the gang rape and brutal beating of a 23-year-old student on a bus
  • Police in India's capital have used water cannons and batons for a second day
  • Official promised to consider the protesters' demands for death penalties for all six suspects

NEW DELHI (AP) — Police in India's capital have used water cannons and batons for a second day to break up protests by hundreds of people demonstrating against the gang rape and brutal beating of a 23-year-old student on a bus.

Demonstrations continued Sunday despite Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde promising to consider the protesters' demands for death penalties for all six suspects who have been arrested by police following the Dec. 16 attack.

Shinde also said Saturday night that the government was taking steps to better ensure the safety of women.

A group of protesters met Sonia Gandhi, the governing Congress party chief, on Sunday and demanded a speedy trial of the suspects.

The attack last Sunday has sparked days of protests across the country.

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