From Unnao, Kathua, Surat to Kanpur; death penalty the big deterent

The Centre has approved an ordinance to amend the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act to provide for the death penalty for the rape of children below the age of 12. The move comes in the wake of public outrage over the Kathua rape and murder case where the victim was a minor. According to the order, the minimum punishment for rape has been increased from seven years in prison to 10 years, extendable up to life imprisonment. Measures to speed up court proceedings in rape cases have also been introduced.