Campaign for death penalty to child rapists reaches Nagaland

Dimapur, April 16 (EMN): Governor PB Acharya has expressed support to a campaign that seeks death penalty as punishment for rape of children, according to a press release from the Raj Bhavan on Monday.

Acharya has received said petition from the Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs (CoWE) of India containing a request to amend the laws in Nagaland to award death penalty against cases of child rape.

It stated that the governor has forwarded the letter from CoWE to the chief minister’s office ‘for necessary legislation.’

“The letter, addressed to the governor, stated that we need to play our role in the protection of the girl child and stated that while there are many areas to tackle, the confederation believes an important aspect is severe punishment to the perpetrators.

“It further stated that the Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs of India has initiated a petition asking for awarding death penalty or life imprisonment as punishment for child rape and speedy trial in case of child rape to get justice within six months,” the statement read.

The campaign has received more than 15,000 signatures within one month and the number continues to increase by the week, it stated. Acharya had earlier met the chairperson of CoWE, Uma Ghurka in Mumbai after which he had asked her to ‘send a letter to his office’.

Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh have passed bills awarding death penalty for rape of minor child below the age of 12.