In Muzaffarnagar, two minors sexually assaulted in separate cases
What's the story
A day after the government approved death-penalty for rapists of children under-12, two cases of sexual assault have been reported from Muzaffarnagar. A doctor allegedly kidnapped a 13-year-old girl, kept her sedated in his clinic for three days and raped her. She managed to escape yesterday. In another incident, a man allegedly lured a nine-year-old boy to a jungle yesterday and sexually assaulted him.
Girl
Doctor abducted girl when she came to ask for medicines
The father of the girl said they had sent her to Sonu Verma, a doctor, to fetch some medicines Tuesday, but she went missing. Yesterday, she returned home in an intoxicated condition and told them about her ordeal. Police confirmed she had been seized, drugged and sexually assaulted by Verma, who has been arrested. His clinic has been sealed and some 'objectionable material' seized.
Boy
Boy was saved as he raised an alarm
In the other case, a man lured the nine-year-old when he was playing in a field near his house yesterday evening, police said. But he raised an alarm when he was taken to the jungle, alerting locals, who saved him. The accused managed to flee. A case has been lodged on the complaint of the young child's father. A manhunt is on.
Editor's take
Does the 13-year-old girl's rapist not deserve strict punishment?
Though implementing strict punishment for such heinous crimes is a much-needed step, the amendment suggests death-penalty only if the victim is under 12. So even if the Muzaffarnagar doctor is convicted, he might escape harsh punishment due to a technicality. Rape leaves a deep trauma on victims, especially if they're young. All rapes need to be condemned equally to ensure justice for all victims.