Arunachal Pradesh has became the fourth state after Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana to prescribe death penalty for those convicted of raping girls under 12 years.
The 60-member State Assembly on Friday passed the Criminal Laws (Arunachal Pradesh) Amendment Bill 2018 for “dealing with an iron hand” any form of violence against women and children. The Pema Khandu government in the State has been pushing this bill for quite some time.
“This is a historic legislation that will go a long way in checking crimes against women and children,” the Chief Minister, Mr. Khandu, said.
The bill seeks to amend, among others, section 354, 354 (B), 354 (D) of Indian Penal Code for harsher punishment for outraging the modesty of women by adding 7-10 years to existing provisions for imprisonment and increasing fine up to Rs 1-lakh.
The bill also provides for amendment to Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, Indian Evidence Act and Code of Criminal Procedure as consequential legislation.
