Should the Rape Accused Face Death Penalty? Uma Bharti Speaks Out
Synopsis
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Bhopal, Nov 28 (NationPress) In response to the apprehension of a suspect in the rape of a six-year-old girl on Friday, seasoned Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) figure and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Uma Bharti, asserted that authorities must guarantee he faces capital punishment.
Bharti emphasized that true justice for the victim can only be achieved through a swift trial in a fast-track court, culminating in a verdict of death penalty within a span of 40 days.
She declared that anyone who commits such heinous acts against a minor girl is unworthy of any form of leniency.
Defending the execution of a 'short encounter' during the arrest of the accused, identified as Salman (23), the former Chief Minister remarked, "It would have been more appropriate had the police conducted a full encounter. However, the government can still finalize the legal proceedings in 40 days and ensure this rapist receives the death penalty."
Salman had been on the run following the alleged assault on the minor girl in the Gauharganj area of Raisen district on November 21, a crime that sparked significant public outrage in the region.
A group of young Muslim men from Naya Basti in Bhopal were instrumental in Salman's capture. The Raisen district authorities had announced a reward of Rs 30,000 for information leading to his arrest, with over 15 police teams from nearby districts on his trail.
Two youths, named Abdul Rizwan and Asif, managed to recognize Salman through CCTV footage shared on social media and promptly notified the Bhopal police around 11:15 p.m. on Thursday in the Gandhi Nagar area.
A Bhopal police Crime Branch team quickly arrived at the scene, apprehending Salman.
During the arrest, Salman revealed to the youths that he was without family support, having lost his mother, and lived alone in Karond.
This incident has escalated tensions in the areas from Bhopal to Raisen, leading to public protests and unrest, prompting the administration to impose prohibitory orders and deploy a heavy police presence.
Raisen Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Gupta reported that Salman was arrested in the Gandhinagar area and was being transported to Raisen when the police vehicle broke down near Kiratnagar village close to Bhojpur. During the transfer, Salman attempted to escape by seizing the Sub-Inspector's firearm and fired at the officers. In the ensuing crossfire, he was shot in the leg and subsequently taken to Jai Prakash Hospital in Bhopal for medical attention.