PATIALA: Demanding death penalty for the accused of Delhi gang rape , hundreds of local residents came on streets and organized a protest march which remained politician-free. Parvesh Rao who owns a local press said: "My entire family participated in the protest. I asked my friends and students to join in."

The protest started from Sherwala gate up to fountain chowk, Theekeriwala chowk and concluded near Mahakali temple on the mall road. The agitation included students, young girls, women and local shopkeepers who demanded immediate death penalty for the accused. "Central government must take immediate steps for fast trial in this case and hang all the accused to set an example to contain rapes in the future," said Shoba Jain, a homemaker.

In Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal announced that the Punjab government would soon enforce strict law for awarding harshest punishment to those accused of rape.

