Rajasthan rape case: Beniwal demands public hanging law for child sex offenders
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) MP and National Convener Hanuman Beniwal on Saturday, 11 July condemned the alleged sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, demanding that Parliament enact a law permitting the public hanging of those convicted of child sexual abuse. The case has triggered sharp political and public outrage across the state.
What Beniwal Alleged
In a post on social media platform X, Beniwal tagged both the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the Rajasthan Chief Minister's Office (CMO), alleging that the minor had been held captive and subjected to repeated abuse over several days — all without local police detecting the crime. He described the incident as a matter of deep concern that had brought shame to Rajasthan and reflected serious administrative failure.
Beniwal questioned how such an alleged crime could take place in hotels without the knowledge of the local administration. He sought accountability from the police, the Excise Department, and other authorities responsible for monitoring such establishments.
Demands Against the Rajasthan Government
Criticising the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led state government, Beniwal argued that the local intelligence network and police administration had failed in their duty despite the victim allegedly being held for several days. He said repeated incidents of crimes against women and children pointed to structural weaknesses in Rajasthan's law-and-order machinery.
The RLP leader made clear that arresting the main accused alone would not be sufficient. He demanded action against anyone found to have directly or indirectly shielded the accused, as well as officials whose negligence may have contributed to the incident going undetected.
Calls for Fast-Track Justice and Victim Support
Beniwal urged the Rajasthan government to take full responsibility for the survivor's medical treatment, rehabilitation, and psychological counselling. He also called for the case to be heard on a day-to-day basis in a fast-track court to ensure timely justice — a demand echoed by several other political leaders in the state.
The Push for Harsher Punishment
Referring to earlier interventions in Parliament, Beniwal said he has consistently advocated for tougher laws against those convicted of crimes against children. He reiterated his demand for legislation providing for the public hanging of convicted child sex offenders, arguing that the severity of the punishment would serve as a credible deterrent. This is not the first time such a demand has surfaced in Indian political discourse — similar calls have been made following high-profile child assault cases in previous years.
The alleged assault in Sri Ganganagar has drawn widespread condemnation, with multiple leaders across party lines demanding a swift investigation and strict legal action against all those responsible. The matter is expected to be raised in upcoming legislative sessions.