Stringent law to prevent crime against women on the anvil

Steps are under way to bring in stringent legislation to prevent atrocities against women and children and to ensure that the perpetrators of such crime are given exemplary punishment, Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan has said.

In the proposed legislation, provision would be included to ensure speedy trial of accused in harassment cases so that the State would be freed from recurring atrocities against women and children, especially girls, the Minister said while addressing a public function here to flag off a cycle rally — ‘Soumya, Nirbhaya’ — from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram highlighting the messages of national integration, women’s empowerment and fitness through cycling.

The Minister expressed concern over the recent gang rape of a girl hailing from West Bengal in Kannur district, and the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl at Vattappara in Thiruvananthapuram last year.

The government did not support capital punishment. However, those committing heinous crime against women and children would not be spared, he said referring to a recent court verdict awarding death sentence to a youth for raping and murdering the Class X student at Vattappara.

Complaints against police excesses would also be looked into and stern action would be taken against erring police personnel, he said. However, it would be ensured that no policeman was harassed on the basis of fabricated charges.

Referring to recurring communal tension in Kasaragod, Mr. Radhakrishan said policing in the district would be strengthened. He promised all support to the force for making the region communal tension-free.

The cycle rally is led by K.S. Sudarashan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, and Salim, Superintendent of Police, Kerala Police Academy. Fifteen police personnel of the academy are taking part in the rally.

The rally was flagged off from the Government Higher Secondary School premises here, where the Minister also inaugurated the Students’ Police Cadet office.

The rally is being organised in the light of the gang rape of a girl in a moving bus in New Delhi in December, which triggered widespread protests across the country against increasing crime against women and children. Meetings will be held in at least 25 venues, including schools and colleges, as part of the rally, which will cover all districts in the State.

The rally is scheduled to reach Thiruvananthapuram on February 13.

The function was presided over E. Chandrasekharan, MLA. N. Shankar Reddy, Additional Director-General of Police, North; and Superintendent of Police S. Surendran addressed the gathering.