The indefinite hunger strike of Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal entered the third day on Sunday.

Seeking death penalty for rapists, Maliwal had launched the protest at Rajghat in wake of the rape incidents in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao and Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua districts.

The DCW chief had begun her strike urging government to take concrete actions to curb sexual crimes against women.

“Prime minister did fast for one day yesterday. We were hoping that he will speak something on the issue and will give assurance to the countrymen to ensure safety of our daughters. But silence of the PM and entire govt is very heart breaking,” Maliwal had said on Friday.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, the DCW chief had said: “I will not break my anshan (fast) until the Prime Minister does not (promise) the country a better system for the safety of our daughters.”

The protest saw a large number of women and children participating, urging the authorities to implement stricter anti-rape laws in the country.

The Commission had observed a month-long satyagraha in February, demanding fast-track courts and stricter laws for those accused of raping minors.

Thousands of people reached the strike venue to participate in the hunger strike and support the movement.

An eight-year-old girl from the nomadic Bakerwal community disappeared from near her house on January 10 in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district.

A week later, her body was found in the same area.

In the Unnao case, an 18-year-old girl has alleged she was raped by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar at his residence on June 4, 2017.

In February, the girl’s family moved the court seeking to include the MLA’s name in the case.

(With agencies inputs)