Bangalore: Coming out in support of harsh punishment to rapists, Karnataka Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje on Wednesday urged the BJP government in the state to amend laws to provide for stringent punishment, including surgical castration, to perpetrators of crime against women.
In a letter to Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, Karandlaje, the lone woman representative in the Ministry, pointed out that in the last two months at least 15 rape cases had been reported in parts of the state.
In certain cases, the police had refused to register cases and in some influential persons had shielded the accused, she noted and wanted the government to create an environment in which affected women can file complaints.
The government should introduce a bill in the coming legislature session to amend laws (such as Karnataka Police Act), she said in the letter, copies of which were released to media.
She also suggested that women subjected to rape should get adequate compensation including 50 per cent of moveable and immoveable properties of those who assault them sexually.
The Minister also suggested installation of CCTV cameras in all police stations, formation of a committee to record the statement of rape victims and a separate cell to help women to file complaints.
The Women Commission should get more power, he suggested.
PTI
