Saikia seeks Ordinance

Crimes against women

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, April 18: Leader of Opposition in Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia has urged Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to promulgate an Ordinance with provisions for stringent punishment for crimes against women, immediately.

In a statement issued to the media on Wednesday, Saikia said that following a debate during the Budget Session in the House the State Congress Legislature Party (CLP) had moved an adjournment motion to discuss crimes against women, the gang-rape at Batadraba in particular. The Chief Minister had promised to enact a stringent law in the next session of the Assam Legislative Assembly to combat crimes against women, he said. “That step will entail delay of several months whereas the spree of rapes and murders of women across the State needs an immediate deterrent action,” the Leader of Opposition pointed out.

Saikia further suggested that since the judiciary is already overburdened with various cases, the Chief Minister should urgently establish at least six or seven special fast-track courts in the State to deal with crimes against women. He said that these courts should be given wide-ranging territorial jurisdiction till such time as similar courts are set up in all districts of the State.