Give severe punishment to those who raped minor in Nagpur hostel: activists

Delhi/Mumbai: Questioning the audacity of the criminals while throwing light on the law and order situation in Maharashtra, women activists on Friday expressed grave concern over the rape of a minor girl in a Nagpur hostel and demanded stringent punishment against the accused.

Women's rights activist Shamina Shafiq demanded that the MLA in whose name the room was allotted should be made accountable.

Questioning the law and order situation, the activist said, "Criminals have audacity to go to hostels and gang-rape a girl, it questions the entire law and order situation of Maharashtra."

She demanded that Maharashtra DG Satish Mathur should look into this matter personally so that the rapists get severe punishment.

Meanwhile, another women rights activist Abha Singh also condemned the incident and demanded stringent punishment for the rape accused.

She, however, also questioned the wisdom of the girl's parents.

"It is surprising that when so many crimes against women are being reported then how could the victim's mother send her minor daughter with the man to Bhopal? Don't send your daughters with any male, except father or brother, anywhere," she said.

According to an FIR filed in Nagpur, a minor girl was gang-raped by her employer's son and a youth in Nagpur's MLA Hostel between April 14 and 17.

The accused have been identified as Manoj Bhagat (44) and Rajat Madre (19). The two accused were arrested by the police under Sections of the POCSO Act (child rape) and kidnapping.

According to the police, Bhagat, the son of victim's employer, raped the girl in his car in the parking area of the MLA hostel and later in a room. Madre raped her in the room, said the police.