President: Should be no mercy for rape convicts

December 06, 2019 14:56

President Ram Nath Kovind, speaking at a function at Mt Abu says there should be no mercy for rape convicts. "Incidents happening against women in this country is appalling. The incidents of demonic attacks on women have shaken the conscience of our country. Rape convicts under POCSO Act should not be allowed the mercy petition," the president said.

His statement assumes important given that the mercy petition of one of the five rape convicts Vinay Sharma, who is facing the gallows for the gang-rape and murder of the 23-year-old paramedic student in Delhi, is lying with the president.

The Union Home Ministry has sent to President Ram Nath Kovind the recommendation of the Delhi government rejecting the mercy plea of one of the convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape case, officials said on Friday.

The move came two days after the file rejecting the mercy plea was sent by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal to the Home Ministry. The file has been forwarded to the President for consideration and final decision. The Home Ministry has also commented in the file recommending the rejection of the mercy petition of one of the convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape case, the official said.

Vinay Sharma, one of the convicts facing the gallows for the rape-and-murder of a 23-year-old paramedic student, had filed the mercy petition before the President.

Nirbhaya was gang-raped on December 16, 2012. She later succumbed to her injuries. The brutality of the rape had rocked the nation leading to massive protests.

Image: Vinay Sharma, one of the four death row convicts in the December 2012 gang rape case of the paramedic, had allegedly tried to commit suicide in Tihar Jail in 2016.

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