MP govt set to bring in law to award death penalty to rapists

ACCORDING TO LATEST DATA, EVERY DAY, ON AN AVERAGE, 12 WOMEN ARE RAPED IN MADHYA PRADESH

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh government will bring a legislation in the forthcoming monsoon session for awarding death penalty to rapists, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said here on Friday while speaking at the passing out parade of 89th batch of 633 sub-inspectors on the outskirts of Bhopal.

Chouhan said MP government will bring a bill in the monsoon session of the assembly in which there will be a provision for death penalty instead of jail term for rapists. He said after the bill is passed in the state, it will be sent to the Centre and the President. Chouhan also pointed out that MP might also go for an anti-Romeo squad like arrangement like Uttar Pradesh. He stressed that police should teach a lesson to such youth who harass women.

MP continues to be the most dangerous place for women in the country. Sexual violence and increasing crime against women has been a major concern here. According to latest data, every day, on an average, 12 women are raped in MP.

According to the fresh data submitted in the ongoing assembly, on an average, 11 women were raped every day and six gang-raped every week in the state in last one year. And over half of the victims were minor.

Data show that between February 1, 2016 and mid-February 2017, 4,279 women were raped and 248 gang-raped in MP. Of 4,279 rape victims, 2,260 are minors.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau data released in August last year for 2015, MP reported highest number of rapes (4,391) in the country. There has been an increase in crime against women in MP, with 74% rise in rape cases.