JOIN US'Keep juvenile rapist behind bars'
As the imminent release of the juvenile convicted in the December 16 gang-rape case approaches, the father of the victim on Wednesday suggested that the juvenile should be retained behind bars under another section of the law.
The 23-year-old victim’s parents had recently approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with a complaint that the juvenile is a threat to society. Following this, the NHRC had sent notices to the Union Home Ministry, Delhi Police and the Delhi government.
“The convict should be booked under some other section so that he is not released,” said the victim’s father. The release will reflect the failure of the government to ensure women safety, the father said.
“It is the failure of both the Centre and the state government to protect women in the city. No government is talking about women’s safety. Even if they are raising women’s safety issues, it is only on paper,” said the father.
Three years on, security issues have not improved in the city, he said. “It has become more unsafe for women. Nothing here has changed. Now criminals know they can commit a crime and get away with it. The government should address women’s safety on priority. We will be in pain forever but we hope the society is not at threat from such people.”
The victim’s parents have written to the NHRC that the juvenile was largely responsible for the death of their daughter as he was the most brutal of all the offenders.
The parents have requested the commission to recommend the government to prepare a plan to protect citizens from juvenile convicts after they are released from correctional homes.
“We have told the commission that the government should make available an action plan for the convict and make his current mental status public. The society should know his current mental condition, what he thinks,” said the father.
The commission has now called for reports on the latest psychiatric assessment of the juvenile from the Delhi government. It has asked the Centre to report if it has taken any action on the representation submitted by the family.