Maneka Gandhi proposes death penalty for raping children below 12 years of age
New Delhi, Apr 13 (IBNS): Reacting to the twin-rape cases in the country, Women and Child Development minister, Maneka Gandhi, on Friday said she will propose death penalty for those who rape children below 12 years of age, media reports said.
Maneka said she and her ministry will try to make an amendment in the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, asking for death penalty for rapists who commit the crime on children below 12 years of age.
"Am deeply, deeply disturbed by the rape case in Kathua, and all the recent rape cases. I and the ministry intend to bring an amendment to the POCSO Act asking for the death penalty for the rape of children below 12 years of age" Maneka has been quoted by The Times Of India.
The POCSO Act, which came into force in 2012, has been framed to protect children from sexual abuse and harassment and pornography.
Asifa, the minor, was held captive by the accused at a temple and later she was raped, mutilated and murdered in Rassana village of Kathua months ago, crime branch of Jammu and Kashmir police stated.
However, several lawyers had stopped the police from registering cases against the accused in the case.
After six hours of ruckus, police could file the charge-sheets.
In another case, BJP lawmaker Kuldeep Singh Sengar has been charged with raping a minor girl in Unnao town of the state.
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