After a spate of rape incidents witnessed across the nation the demand for chemical castration has revived in Mumbai.
Even though the government had framed stringent laws to curb rape but rape cases continue to rise unabated each passing day. Since last few months, India had witnessed several rape cases which have traumatized the whole nation. Few days back a 30-year-old woman’s naked body was found in a pool of blood inside a school in Balkheda locality, just a few kilometres from Jabrauli village, which former US president Bill Clinton visited the same day. Investigations revealed that the victim was badly injured and her private parts were mutilated.
An 18-year-old girl was allegedly raped repeatedly by a married man after being threatened in Kalyan area of Thane district. According to the complaint lodged by the girl, the accused, identified as Mangesh Mhetre, aged around 25 years who works at a cloth shop in the locality, forcibly raped her daily between May 18 and June 6 when she was alone at her home at Vitthalwadi in Kalyan. The Congress led UPA government had tightened anti-rape laws but it was not in favour of awarding chemical castration for rapists. After a spate of rape incidents witnessed across the nation the demand for chemical castration has revived. When AV spoke to eminent politicians and Mumbaikars many of them supported castration punishment for the rape accused while some others had objections against it.
Geeta Gawli, BMC Health Committee chairperson said, “The government is trying its best to control rape and molestation incidents. The rape accused must be awarded death sentence or chemical castration is another solution to curb this crime. Sometimes women also make false allegation against men as innocent person have to suffer on account of it.”
Rohini Salian, senior Advocate said, “It’s not right to blame the government for rising rape incidents. There is a need to create awareness among children about anti-rape laws in school so that they won’t commit this crime becoming adults. Men needs to change their mindset towards women which will result into decline in the number of rape cases.”
Rohini Salian nonetheless was not in favour of castration punishment for rape accused as it is against the law.
Neelam Gorhe, Shiv Sena MLC and spokesperson supported castration as penalty for curbing rapes. She said, “Besides chemical castration there is need to create awareness among people about punishments of rapes. Apart from these, there is a need to strengthen the judiciary system.”
Shaina NC, BJP spokesperson from Maharashtra said, “Photographs of rape victims are being circulated over Whatsapp which is very traumatizing. If convicts are given castration as punishment then they will rethink twice before committing rapes.”
Santosh More, a Borivali resident said, “Each and every day, I read about rape and molestation cases in newspapers. I don’t know when this incidents will be stopped. Castration will act as a deterrent to reduce rape cases.”
Anand Shirke who works in a garage said, “The government has failed to curb rape incidents. If it take strict action against accused then nobody will ever think about committing rapes. Several rape cases are pending in court as victims are being denied justice.”
Varun Shah, a student from KES College said, “There are several provisions in the law to award punishment to the rape accused but the verdict gets delayed. I too support castration for the convicts.”
Parasmal Dugad, a Andheri resident said, “Most of the rape incidents occur at night. The government needs to enhance security so that women feel safe in the city. There is a need to impart sex education to children right from their childhood.”
In the past the nation had witnessed several brutal rape incidents.
In May, two minor Dalit sisters’ dead bodies were found hanging from a tree in the Badaun district. The girls who were cousins were allegedly gang-raped, beaten and hanged alive which garnered international attention.
A six-year-old girl, studying in Class I in Vibgyor High school in Bangalore, was allegedly raped by a teacher in bathroom. No action was taken by the police official in this case. Agitated over police failure to make any arrest, civil society activists and parents staged protests.
On Saturday night a four-member gang of auto and jeep drivers raped a 20-year-old college student at Bodampatti near Rayakottai in Krishnagiri district. A youth accompanying the rape survivor was overpowered and gagged while the accused abducted the victim to a nearby mango orchard and raped her.
