INDIA: Dealth penalty approved as punishment for child rape

The Indian President has signed a regulation that allows severe punishment for sexual violence against children, including the death penalty for persons convicted of raping girls under the age of 12. The Indian government had adopted the regulation on Saturday and was confronted with public anger about recent cases of rape of young girls. An 8-year-old girl was raped and murdered by the gang in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, while in Uttar Pradesh a 16-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a ruling party legislator, causing national outrage and protests. The regulation was legally signed by President Kovind and an official notification to that effect was published Sunday in the national newspaper. It is valid for six months and must be ratified by the parliament. The new law introduces the maximum penalty for the death penalty for those who rape children under the age of 12. According to the previous law, the maximum punishment for rape of children was life in prison. The minimum penalty is a prison sentence of 20 years or life imprisonment. Minimal prison sentences for rape against girls under the age of 16 and women are also increased. The government has also adopted measures for rapid investigation into rape, which stipulates that probes must be completed within two months. Thousands of people have participated in rallies and demonstrations in India in recent days, to protest against the rape of young girls. Four more rapes and murders of young girls were reported last week in Indian cities, contributing to public anger.