Karnataka to recommend capital punishment for rapists

BENGALURU: Karnataka government would recommend to the Union Government to take steps to provide for capital punishment to rapists, Women and Child Welfare Minister Umashree said today.

Amid growing public outrage over increasing sexual assaults, particularly of minor girls in schools here, Umashree told reporters here, "We will recommend to the central government to award capital punishment to rapists."

She said the government has addressed the rape incidents adequately. "The government has warned the police to handle such cases strictly," she said.

Umashree said the Women and Child Welfare Department has been coordinating with the Home department and taken prompt action to help rape victims.

Four cases of sexual assaults of minor girls in schools in as many months in Bangalore have led to growing public outrage and protests over lack of safety, with the institution staff members themselves being arrested.