Centre contemplating capital punishment for rapists of minors, say sources

Following massive outrage over several rape incidents that shook the conscience of the nation, top government sources have told Republic TV that the Central government is mulling capital punishment for rapists of minors.

Earlier on Monday, Republic TV started #DeathForRapists campaign, following the horrific rape incidents in Unnao, Kathua and Surat that have triggered a wave of outrage across the nation. The chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has also backed the call for making the death penalty mandatory in such cases.

READ| Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan Backs Death Penalty For Child Rapists; Reminds That His Govt Was The First

In his tweet citing Republic TV's #DeathForRapists campaign, Chouhan had written, "I have always maintained that those who rape minor girls are not humans and don’t deserve human rights. I support #DeathForRapists for such heinous crimes against humanity. My Government was the first to pass the bill with a provision for a death sentence for child rapists."

Union Minister Maneka Gandhi Demands Death Penalty For Kathua Rapists

Earlier, political bigwigs like Union Minister Maneka Gandhi and Jammu-Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti had said that they were intending to bring a law which would seek death penalty for child rapists.

"I have been deeply disturbed by the rape case in Kathua and all the recent rape cases that have happened in recent past. I and the ministry intend to bring an amendment in the POCSO act  asking for the death penalty for rape on children below 12 years," said Maneka Gandhi.

Mehbooba Mufti had also issued a statement on Twitter saying her government would bring a new law that will make the death penalty mandatory for those who rape minors.

"We will never ever let another child suffer in this way. We will bring a new law that will make the death penalty mandatory for those who rape minors, so that the 8-year-old victim's case becomes the last", Mufti had said. 

The entire country is reeling with anger and disbelief at the Unnao, Kathua and Surat rape cases involving a 17-year-old, a 6-year-old girl and an 11-year-old respectively.