Students-led protests against the killer gang rape this month continued in the Indian capital Monday despite government efforts to alleviate public anger by loosening police control and promising quick and harsh punishment for the culprits.

Students gathered in the afternoon at Connaught Place, Delhi's historical luxury commercial circular commercial center built by the British in 1920s, to demand justice for the 23-year-old medical student who died two days ago in a Singapore hospital after suffering from body and brain damages in a gang rape by six thugs on a moving bus in south Delhi.

Protesters also continued their gathering at the Jantar Mantar protest street in central Delhi near India's arrogantly looking central government buildings, a day after the victim was cremated.

Students organization All India Students Association (AISA) said at least 1,000 students would make rendezvous at Connaught Place to raise their voice until their demands for the hanging of the culprits are met.

In a move to smooth public feelings, Delhi Police lifted all traffic restrictions during the day. But the New Year's celebration will be put under heavy surveillance by the police.

"No vehicle will be allowed after 7 p.m. in and around Connaught Place in central Delhi beyond Minto Road-Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg crossing, Bengali Market, and Chelmsford Road," a Delhi traffic police advisory said in reference to some landmark roads of the Indian capital.

Apart from this, three Metro Stations - Rajiv Chowk, Barakhamba Road and Patel Chowk - will shut down early at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said.

The Indian press widely expressed unhappiness over the secretive and hurried way government cremated the body of the girl victim, which was burnt hours after being flown in from Singapore on a government special plane under heavy security guard.

The newspapers used the words "rush"," quiet", "secrecy", " hurried" to describe the way government managed the cremation.

Sadness is added to the event by revelation of the girl's friends that she was going to get married with her boyfriend in February.

"Cremated, weeks before wedding" was the headline of the daily Hindustan Times.

Both the girl and her boyfriend were also brutally beaten up on the moving bus by their attackers. The boy, an engineer, is said to be remaining in a state of shock and recovering in a undisclosed site barred from the public by government and family.