Government mulls death penalty for child rapists

new delhi — The Indian government said on Friday it is looking to introduce the death penalty for child rapists after nationwide outrage over the brutal gang-rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl.

Demonstrations across the country, after the release of horrific details of the murder of the girl, have increased pressure on the government to take action on sexual crimes.

The government told the Supreme Court that amending the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to bring in capital punishment was under “active consideration” by the law ministry.

“The ministry is sensitive to the plight of young children brutally abused in the most horrific manner,” the government said in a statement to a Supreme Court hearing.

“The ministry is proposing to amend the POCSO Act for introducing death penalty for the abuser in the cases of aggravated sexual assault against children,” it added.

India retains the death penalty for the most serious cases such as particularly brutal murders or terror attacks.

But the sentences are rarely carried out, often struck down on appeal by higher courts. India’s

The ministry is sensitive to the plight of young children brutally abused in the most horrific manner Government statement

women’s minister last week called for the death penalty in child rape cases as opposition groups accused the Hindu nationalist government of inaction over the rape case in the Kathua district of Kashmir and Jammu state.

“I have been deeply, deeply disturbed by the rape case in Kathua and all the recent rape cases that have happened on children,” women and children’s minister Maneka Gandhi said.

She said her ministry would seek to change the POSCO Act so the death penalty is possible for the rape of children under 12.

Meanwhile, three persons, including the main perpetrator, involved in the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl in Surat have been arrested, the Gujarat government said on Friday.

Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja told the media here that Gujarat Police arrested the key perpetrator from a village in Ganganagar district of Rajasthan, who will be brought to Gujarat. — AFP, IANS, PTI