A 47-year-old Delhi Police constable, who was injured during violent protests at India Gate on Sunday against gang rape incident, died today after battling for life in a city hospital following which police invoked murder charges in the case.

Subhash Chand Tomar, a graduate in Arts who hailed from Meerut, was cremated at Nigambodh Ghat with police honours in the presence of Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Minister of State for Home Affairs R P N Singh, Home Secretary R K Singh as well as officers and men of Delhi Police.

President Pranab Mukherjee expressed grief over the death of the constable. "I convey my heartfelt condolence at the loss of a young life who lost his life in the call of duty. I share the agony of the family of the deceased," he said.

Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar announced that they will give a job on compassionate grounds to one of the children of Tomar chosen by his widow. Also, all personnel will contribute one day's salary to his family.

"With deep regret, we have to inform you that Constable Subhash Chand Tomar succumbed to his injuries at 6:40 AM today. He suffered internal injuries in his stomach, chest and neck," Kumar said.

Tomar was posted in Karawal Nagar area and was called for maintaining law and order at India Gate area during the protests on Sunday over the gangrape of a 23-year-old girl on December 16 here.

Tomar, who joined the police in 1987, was found lying injured on Tilak Marg and was rushed to the hospital.

Police had already arrested eight persons, including an activist of Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party, earlier and charged them with murder in connection with the injuries caused to Tomar.

One of the accused is a member of Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party. Kejriwal alleged police had wrongly implicated eight persons in the case and that there was no evidence of their involvement.

Kumar said the constable's family will receive Rs 10 lakh as exgratia, Rs five lakh insurance, Rs three lakh from Delhi Police Welfare Fund and other benefits.

He also said people can contribute money through cheques to the family.

Blaming the protesters for Tomar's death, his son Deepak alleged that protesters brutally beat up his father.

"The public is responsible for this because they beat him up so badly. Can they return my father?" he said.

Tomar's brother Yudhveer Singh also echoed similar views and said, "What was his fault? He was only doing his job and now he is no more."

Tomar's another brother Devinder Singh said, "His family has no other source of income. He was very committed to his duty."

Another brother Surinder Singh blamed the government and protesters. "Whatever has happened is very sad. My brother was just doing his duty. He was working on the orders from his senior officers.

"The government is responsible for this whole mishmash, if everything would have been done in an organised way, the result would have been different...The people who were protesting against the rape case are also responsible, they should not vent their frustration on anybody," he said.

Terming the death of Tomar as "unfortunate", the Civil Aviation Minister asked the government to set up more fast track courts in other parts of the country to speed up the trial in over 10,000 rape cases and provide speedy justice to the victims.

Police, meanwhile, slapped murder charges against the accused.

Yesterday, it had arrested the eight persons in connection with the case on charges of attempt to murder. However, following the death of the constable at the RML Hospital here, the police decided to slap murder charges against the eight accused.

Those named in the FIR are Shankar Bisht, Nand, Shantanu, Kailash Joshi, Amit Joshi, Abhishek, Nafees Ahmad and Chaman, a member of AAP, police said.

All the eight have been booked under sections 302 (murder), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of IPC.

They were arrested and released on bail yesterday.