SHE WAS RAPED WITH A STEEL ROD

[HairOfTheDog]

I often think that people on that side of the world don't value life.

That part of the world has had a caste system in place for 1000's of years that did nothing but create a permanent underclass of people that are there to be abused. They have always had and still do Child Slavery.
Life has meant nothing there unless you were rich.

Some of their laws are seriously effed up (IMO) and slowly being updated, sometimes as a result of massive global exposure and public outcry (as happened in the case of Duchess' OP story).

I agree with you that the caste system treats the poorer Indian citizens with less dignity than those in higher castes (which is really the defining principle of the caste system). It's also still, AFAIK, nearly impossible to change castes because one's status is inherited.

But, India is a very religious Hindu country -- religion plays a huge part in day to day life, regardless of caste. And, the high value placed on life by Hindus extends to animals, as well as other humans. Karma is also a big part of the typical Indian's belief system.

So, I thinks it's an inaccurate statement that life in India means nothing unless you're rich. The poor people in the raped/hanged girls' village value life. The government of India pushed for immediate apprehension and arrest of the suspects. The country is outraged over the crimes.

Lifestyle is very different and how you're regarded is largely contingent on caste in India, and there are some POSs who prey on others everywhere -- the easier and more vulnerable the prey, the better. In India, individuals from lower castes are probably easier targets for messed up individuals who don't value life in the first place, IMO.

Anyway, I hope these girls' loved ones get appropriate criminal justice and think there's a good chance that they will (just like the family of the higher-caste victims in the thread OP).

I'm not defending the caste system -- I find it deplorable. Just that the caste system isn't to blame for what this gang of assholes did and their willingness to take lives, they are responsible and there would be people like them regardless of the social/economic system.