Zeenews Bureau
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday called for amending criminal laws to ensure stringent punishment for rape in the wake of the death of the Delhi gang-rape victim.
Expressing deep shock at the death of the 23-year old gang rape victim in Singapore, Banerjee told reporters," There is need for more stringent laws against those who commit such crimes as the provisions of the IPC and CRPC are very old.
"It (crime against women) is a serious problem and I feel criminal laws are old and weak. Though amendment is a central subject, we will provide all cooperation," she said.
"The centre must ensure that the culprits are severely punished. I feel there is a need to amend criminal laws and bring in more stringent punishment for the offence of rape," she said.
"Though women are more vulnerable in rural areas, there is hardly any instance of rape in such places. But in urban areas, rapes and crimes against women have been rising.
"I feel society needs to be more responsible. The awareness level also needs to be increased so that such incidents do not recur," she said.
With IANS inputs
First Published: Saturday, December 29, 2012, 15:30