Karnataka to recommend capital punishment for rapists

, Nov 5: The

government would recommend to the Union government to take steps to provide for capital punishment to rapists, Women and Child Welfare Minister Umashree said on Monday.

Amid growing public outrage over increasing sexual assaults, particularly of minor girls in schools in Bengaluru, Ms Umashree told reporters, "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.

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

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

PTI