Karnataka to Amend Law to Deny Bail to Rapists

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Jan 16: Karnataka is contemplating bringing legal amendment to ensure that rape accused do not get bail.

This was announced by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar in Bangalore on Wednesday.

The Chief Minister said the Government has directed the police to book the rape accused under the anti-Goonda Act and to take steps to prevent any type of atrocities against women.

Addressing a meeting of the ruling BJP’s elected women panchayat members organized by the State BJP Mahila Morcha, Shettar outlined the measures taken by the State Government to ensure the safety and security of women  and to prevent atrocities against women.

In a parallel development, State Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje, who has strongly identified herself with former chief minister and KJP leader B S Yeddyurappa, called on the chief minister and personally requested him to take drastic steps to prevent atrocities against women and ensure that investigations into all complaints was done on a priority basis.

Karandlaje, who is believed to have made up her mind to resign from the Shettar cabinet and quit the BJP to join KJP, discussed the recent incident of a young housewife being lured in Chikkaballapur by some persons, who not only raped her, but also sold her to a brothel in Delhi.

The lone woman minister in the Jagadish Shettar cabinet said the Chikkaballapur incident was yet another indication to prove that women were not safe in the State.

Karandlaje had earlier written a letter to Shettar seeking more steps for women’s safety.

She has also requested the chief minister to direct police to check trafficking of women and keep a vigil on cases of girls going missing.

Shobha said she discussed various issues concerning women’s safety with the chief minister.