Indian rapists face death penalty

Indian women look at the BBC camera worrying about the current rape situation. The bill to punish the rapists with death penalty has passed the lower House of Parliament March.19. waiting for the upper House approval.

Indian rapists might face death soon.

Indian lower house of parliament March.19. passed a bill containing tougher punishment for rapists including death penalty.

The law goes into effect after upper house of parliament’s approval, reported BBC March.19.

The measure comes after ceaseless rapes -- sometimes resulting in death -- caused uproar among the public and called on the lawmakers for tougher punishment.

The old law sentenced 10 years in prison if the victim dies or becomes a vegetable.

The amended law, however, will allow death penalty for the assailants

Social stigma, rather than compassion is in order for Indian rape victims.

Rape happens every 20 minutes but the victims are reluctant to report because of the stain that follows.

A college girl was gang-raped and killed in a bus in New Delhi last December, which sparked a nationwide protest.

Another recent rape involves a Swiss tourist in Madhya Pradesh.

About the passage of this law, Indian congresswoman Harsimrat Kaur Badal said, “This is just a first step in a journey of 1,000 miles,”

An opposition party member Pinaki Misra said, “We are today facing an epidemic in the country after the horrific incident of Dec. 16. and it is my shameful admission that there has been 250 rapes since then,”