India's cabinet has approved harsher punishments for rapists, including the death penalty, after a brutal gang-rape in New Delhi that sparked national outrage.
A government-appointed panel recommended the changes to ministers after the death of a 23-year-old woman who was savagely raped and attacked in a bus on December 16 and died nearly two weeks later.
The case ignited nationwide demonstrations by protesters demanding better safety for women.
The changes, which must be approved by President Pranab Mukherjee to become law, include doubling the minimum sentence for gang-rape and imposing the death penalty when the victim is killed or left in a vegetative state.
"We have taken swift action and hope these steps will make women feel safer in the country," Law Minister Ashwani Kumar told reporters late on Friday.
"This is a progressive piece of legislation and is consistent with the felt sensitivities of the nation in the aftermath of the outrageous gang-rape," he added.
The changes to the rape laws are expected to be approved by Mukherjee as early as this weekend but must be ratified by parliament or they will lapse.
Under the changes, the minimum sentence for gang-rape, rape of a minor, rape by policemen or a person in authority will be doubled to 20 years from 10 and can be extended to life without parole.
Under the current law, a rapist faces a term of seven to 10 years.
The cabinet has also created a new set of offences such as voyeurism and stalking that will be included in the new law.
Five men are being tried in a special fast-track court in New Delhi on charges of murder, kidnapping and rape in connection with the death of the student, who died after being airlifted to a Singapore hospital.
A sixth suspect faces trial in a juvenile court.
India says it only imposes the death penalty in the "rarest of rare cases". Three months ago, it hanged the lone surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks -- the country's first execution in eight years.
AFP
Sat Feb 02 2013
IN RAGE: India's cabinet has approved harsher punishments for rapists, including the death penalty.
Melaka tunggu garis panduan untuk pelaksanaan kenaikan gaji penjawat awam negeri
Kerajaan negeri Melaka sedang menunggu garis panduan berkaitan pelaksanaan kenaikan gaji penjawat awam daripada kerajaan Persekutuan.
[TERKINI] Keadaan Koperal Hasif stabil, masih dirawat di HSI
Anggota polis, Koperal Mohd Hasif Roslan yang cedera ditembak dalam serangan di Balai Polis Ulu Tiram masih menerima rawatan di Hospital Sultan Ismail, di Johor Bahru.
BMW Malaysia catat pertumbuhan jualan 8 peratus pada suku pertama, kenaikan 26 peratus jualan EV
BMW Group Malaysia menjual sebanyak 4,300 kenderaan pada suku pertama tahun ini, mewakili peningkatan lapan peratus berbanding tempoh yang sama pada 2023.
Pegawai Imigresen mengaku tidak bersalah terima rasuah
Seorang pegawai Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia mengaku tidak bersalah atas 10 pertuduhan menerima rasuah berjumlah RM7,600.
Saksi dakwa Ebit Lew hantar mesej lucah menjelang malam
Saksi kesembilan mendakwa mesej yang diterima daripada pendakwah terkenal, Ebit Lew berunsur lucah dan mengaibkan kehormatannya sebagai wanita.
Warga emas hidap masalah pendengaran boleh jejas rutin harian – Pakar
Kesan hilang sensitiviti deria pendengaran bagi seorang dewasa dan warga emas memberi kesan yang berbeza.
Tun Musa lancar buku Ku Li: Memoir 205, angkat perjalanan politik Tengku Razaleigh
Tun Musa Hitam melancarkan buku KU LI: Memoir 205 yang mengangkat kisah perjalanan politik lagenda politik, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah pada Selasa.
Iran mulakan siasatan nahas helikopter Presiden Raisi
Iran memulakan siasatan berhubung nahas helikopter yang mengorbankan Presiden Ebrahim Raisi dan rombongannya dalam kejadian di barat laut negara itu.
AWANI Ringkas: Empat individu mengaku bersalah
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
TPM Fadillah bincang pengurusan air lestari dengan Bank Dunia, UNECE di Bali
Fadillah mengadakan perbincangan dua hala dengan Bank Dunia dan United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).