Awanish was overpowered and beaten into unconsciousness with an iron rod. Then, in a moving vehicle traversing the dark streets of the capital, the men took turns brutally assaulting Jyoti. They inserted the same iron rod — used as a gear lever — into her body, causing catastrophic internal injuries. She was bitten, beaten, and violated in ways that medical examiners would later describe as the worst they had ever seen. Eventually, the men stripped both victims and threw them onto the side of the road near Mahipalpur flyover, believing Jyoti was already dead.
They were discovered by a passerby at 11:15 PM. For Jyoti, the physical damage was almost beyond repair: her intestines were pulled out, her liver was perforated, and she had lost nearly 85% of her blood.
Within hours of her death, thousands gathered at Jantar Mantar, India Gate, and the President’s House in New Delhi. What began as candlelight vigils quickly transformed into the largest mass protests India had seen since the independence movement. Students, mothers, lawyers, and celebrities took to the streets. They chanted, "We want justice!" and "Hang the rapists!"
The juvenile was sent to a reform home, where reports suggested he was given counseling, vocational training, and even allowed to play video games. When he was released in December 2015 — three years to the month after the crime — his identity was protected by law. He was reportedly relocated and given a new life.