GUWAHATI, March 31 - The Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress today submitted a memorandum to the Governor arguing that the State administration should maintain zero tolerance towards all crimes committed against women. Those perpetrating crimes like rape should be awarded the death sentence, they pleaded.
Members of the Mahila Congress also pleaded for urgent steps to set up fast-track courts to try all such cases and to award stringent punishment to those found guilty.
They also called for steps to amend the Juvenile Justice Act so that no person accused of rape can escape punishment on the ground that he is not an adult.
The Mahila Congress members argued that in many rape cases, the main accused gets relief from capital punishment because he is either 18 years, or below that age. Such relief encourages many others to perpetrate such heinous crimes. They pleaded further that security of women should be ensured to the village level.