Highlighting safety concerns for women and children in the Capital, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal on Saturday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to take cognisance of the issue.
Referring to the recent incidents where an eight-month-old child and a six-year-old girl was raped, Ms. Maliwal said, “There is an increase in cases of child rape in the country because the culprits do not fear the law and believe that they will escape the punishment. According to the data provided by Delhi Police, 31,446 crimes against women have been registered between 2012 and 2014, but conviction has taken place in only 151 cases.”
Reiterating her demand to award capital punishment to those raping minors, Ms. Maliwal termed the Union government’s submission in the apex court as ‘shocking’.
The Centre had submitted in the Supreme Court that it was not necessary to award capital punishment to convicts in cases of child rape.
Fast track courts
Further, Ms. Maliwal has urged the Prime Minister to expedite the process of setting up fast track courts to deal with cases related to crimes against women.
“Delhi Police should be provided with 66,000 police personnel and the police stations should be equipped with Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) to increase the efficiency of the police. Also, the working of forensic laboratories should be improved” she added.
