Crime

We are examining the demand of death penalty to rape accused, says Law Minister

‘Debate, discussion, consultations must before a final decision’

Srinagar: Following the rising demand for death penalty to the rape accused after the Kathua case, the law department of Jammu and Kashmir government has initiated a process to draw a road map for a legislation that could be pushed through in the assembly for making a law regarding death penalty to rape accused.

Informed sources while disclosing this to KNS revealed that Law department has started the exercise as the cries over demand for death penalty to rape accused are getting louder day by day not only in Jammu and Kashmir but across India.

Law Minister Abdul Haq Khan when contacted confirmed that an exercise to look into the demand over death penalty to rape accused is being examined but before a final decision lot of debate, discussion and consultations are needed to draft an appropriate legislation.

He said the power to take a final decision on moving a legislation lies with the cabinet and as such it is too early to say anything about the acceptance of the demand by the government. He said a serious effort has been started to respect the sentiments of the people who have raised the demand both in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country.

The voices for death penalty are getting shriller after the brutal rape and murder of a minor girl in Kathua.

The President of India, who was visiting Jammu, said that it was shameful that such incidents take place in the country even after 70 years of independence. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti while referring to the Kathua rape and murder case had said that there is something wrong with the society where a child who is the manifestation of Mata Vaishno Devi is raped and killed so brutally.

“How can someone do such a cruel thing to a small girl who is a manifestation of Mata Vaishno Devi? There is something wrong with the society.”

Narendra Modi, after prongled silence on Kathua and Unnao rape cases broke his silence and said that ‘our daughters will get justice.’

“I want to assure that no criminal will be spared; our daughters will get justice,” said PM, in an apparent reference to Unnao and Kathua cases.

“Such incidents shake our sensibilities,” he said, according to PTI news agency.

Earlier, two BJP Ministers who had rallied in support of the Kathua accused were forced to resign.

The BJP had said that both the ministers were ‘misled and misguided by a few people.’ The main opposition party National Conference had said that they will consider a civil disobedience movement against the government if they fail to take action against the ‘erring ministers’.

However, after resigning, Lal Singh on Tuesday began a march to demand CBI probe into the case.

“The fight is for justice only and its will be done with identifying real culprits,” Singh said while addressing hundreds of supporters at Satwari Chowk in Jammu as he began his Kathua march. “She was our own daughter. We are fighting to punish her culprits but it is unfortunate that people living far away are interpreting this case without knowing the facts,” he said.

The BJP dissociated itself from Singh’s rally. They also said that the party has also initiated an internal inquiry against two axed ministers Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga for earlier participating in Hindu Ekta Manch rally in support of the accused.

(With inputs from KNS)

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