Amarinder condemns gang-rape of 14-year-old girl in Jalandhar

Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh condemned brutal gang-rape of minor girl in Shahkote in Jalandhar district and expressed grave concern over the "rising incidents" of rapes in the state.

Chandigarh: Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday condemned the brutal gang-rape of a minor girl in Shahkote in Jalandhar district and expressed grave concern over the "rising incidents" of rapes in the state. He said that more shocking was the fact that even after ten days of the incident none of the accused had been arrested.

"This reflects the state of affairs as how casually the police have taken such a serious offence," he said, adding that on an average 40 rapes were taking place every month in Punjab. In a statement released here, Amarinder sought best possible medical treatment for the 14-year-old girl who has suffered brutal injuries. "This for sure cannot be described to be the safest state in the country as this government will try to make us believe," he said taking a dig at Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal`s claims that Punjab was the safest state in the country. He said that the government`s casual attitude towards the crime could be gauged from the fact that 12 rapists convicted and sentenced by various courts were pardon by it last year. The former Chief Minister said that the government must not wriggle out of the responsibility by merely saying that it will bear the cost of the treatment. The government must ensure that the best treatment is provided irrespective of how expensive it is, he said, adding, just as Delhi government sent the gang-rape victim to Singapore for super-specialised treatment, Punjab government must also ensure the best treatment for the minor. A 14-year old girl was allegedly abducted and gang-raped by three persons in Mandhala Channa village here on January 28 when she had gone out of her home to relieve herself. PTI