New Delhi (Creative Commons/denharsh.com)

Five men suspected of gang-raping and killing a woman on a bus in New Delhi were charged with murder on Thursday as public anger continued to mount in India, demanding harsher punishments for rapists and more protection for women.

According to The Wall Street Journal, police have charged the men– including the bus driver– for brutally raping and beating the 23-year-old psychotherapy student for more than an hour on December 16. Her male companion was also beaten. Neither of their identities have been released. A sixth suspect is currently being detained in juvenile court.

Women's groups have commended the police for taking action but say authorities "need to push through more sweeping charges."

SEE ALSO: Delhi Woman, Raped On Bus, Dies

The Wall Street Journal reported:

• Rape cases registered by Indian police can often take months, or even years, to reach a court verdict because of an overburdened legal system. Of the 95,000 pending rape cases in 2011, only 15% made it to trial, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.
• In this case, proceedings are moving much more quickly. Authorities in a south Delhi court on Thursday also filed charges of gang rape, robbery and banditry against the five men…Authorities have set up a special fast-track court to try the five men, who could face the death penalty for murder if found guilty.

See more of Neon Tommy's coverage on the case here.

Reach Executive Producer Paige Brettingen here. Follow her here.