Rapist to be hanged if victim 12 or below, promises CM

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, January 20

Following the recent spurt in cases of rape in the state, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar took a tough stand on crime against women today, announcing that a law would be enacted to hang those convicted of raping girls aged 12 years and below.

The Madhya Pradesh Government had already taken this step. Khattar said they would approach the judiciary for setting up fast-track courts to deal with rape cases to ensure speedy justice to victims.

“I am pained over rape incidents. Though the police are dealing with these cases, we have decided to bring in a legislation that those raping girls aged 12 years and below be hanged. We will approach the judiciary for speedy judgments in such cases,” he said.

He was at the Karnal Sugar Mill to lay the foundation stone of a new cooperative sugar mill to replace the old mill, which had started operations in 1976-77. A new mill was the long-pending demand of sugarcane farmers of the region.

A cost of Rs 225 crore would be incurred on the new mill and the crushing capacity of the mill would be 3,500 tonnes crushed per day instead of the existing 2,200 tonnes crushed per day.

Addressing the gathering, Khattar quoted a study which said around 75 per cent of rapes were committed by persons whom the victims knew.

He said society should stand up against such crimes and help the police. He appealed to the media not to sensationalise such crimes and publish news after verifying facts.

Khattar said the law and order situation had improved in the state during the last three years compared to previous governments. He said people had to run from pillar to post for registration of FIR earlier, but now, anyone could get FIR registered.

Accepting the demand of state Sugarfed chairman Chander Parkash Kathuria, Khattar announced widening of the Karnal-Meerut road up to the state border.

Kathuria said widening of this road was a long-pending demand of residents and it would help sugarcane farmers easily bring their crop to the mill.

Hafed chairman Harvinder Kalyan said the mill would benefit farmers of more than 200 villages. He handed over a cheque for Rs 50 crore to the Chief Minister.

Cong workers detained

The police on Saturday rounded up and detained several Congress workers and leaders from the Meerut road here ahead of the visit of the CM to the city. However, some of the activists managed to show black flags to the cavalcade of the Chief Minister.

Will move Centre over SC order on SYL: CM

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Saturday that they would approach the Union government for early execution of the Supreme Court order on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal so that Haryana got its share in river waters. He said his government had ensured speedy hearing in the Supreme Court, which gave its decision in favour of Haryana. Since the matter rested with the Union government, the state would seek early implementation of the decision, he said. "I am sure farmers and other people of the state will get their due share of water," he said.

Black flags shown to Khattar

Rohtak: Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was shown black flags during a programme here on Saturday. The CM was on a visit to the town for laying the foundation stone of Sir Chhotu Ram auditorium when two youths suddenly started showing black flags and raising slogans. The police took the youths in custody. The youths are said to be associated with the student wing of the INLD. The youths have been identified as Abhishek of Baliyana village in Rohtak and Mohit of Ranila village in Charkhi Dadri. TNS