Madhya Pradesh: Punishment for stalking proposed

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh assembly on Monday unanimously passed a “historic” Bill awarding death to the rapists of girls aged 12 or below.

“There are people in society who can be set straight only by severe punishments. It (the legislation) will deal with them. We will also take steps to generate awareness in the society against such crimes,” he added.

The bill, christened as Dand Vidhi (Madhya Pradesh Sansodhan) Vidheyak, 2017, will need President’s assent to become a law.

The bill comes in the wake of recent twin developments of MP earning the dubious distinction of recording highest number of rape cases in the country in 2016 and the gangrape of an undergraduate by four youths in Bhopal.

The bill provides death penalty or a minimum term of 14-year jail term or life imprisonment till death for raping girls aged 12 or below.

The bill also proposes punishment for disrobing, stalking or sex on the pretext of marriage.