KOLKATA: An Indian court convicted six men on Thursday of gang-raping and murdering a student as she walked home after an exam in 2013, in a case that sparked outrage over women’s safety.

Security was tight outside the court in the eastern city of Kolkata for the verdict, with chanting protesters demanding justice and scuffling with police.

Senior public prosecutor Dipak Ghosh said that six accused were convicted of gang-raping the 21-year-old woman, as well as murder, interfering with evidence and other charges.

Judge Sanchita Sarkar told the packed court that two others “are acquitted due to lack of evidence”.

“The... punishment will be announced after hearing the convicts on Friday”, she said. The six face punishments ranging from 20 years in jail to the death penalty.

The gang attacked the university student as she returned home to her village, 50 kilometres northeast of Kolkata, in June 2013.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2016