By IANS,
New Delhi : Those accused of rape should not be granted bail, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said Saturday and urged the people to “socially boycott” such individuals.
“The crime of rape is no less than murder and there is no ground to grant bail to the criminal,” Dikshit said after inaugurating a consultation on the Guidelines for Managing Sexual Assault.
She described rape, molestation and sexual assault as a threat to civilized society.
“It is the responsibility of the government to provide assistance to the victim and restore her mental health. It is not enough to provide just financial assistance to the victim. It requires much more to be done,” the chief minister said.
Dikshit said those named in rape cases “should be socially boycotted”.
According to Delhi Police data, over 330 rape and molestation cases have been registered in the first four months of this year. Last year, the capital had reported 581 cases of rape.
“We all will have to work together to change the mindset of society as society treats the victim as bearer of stigma, which is permanently attached to her throughout life, whereas the criminal carries no stigma,” Dikshit added.
Speaking on the occasion, veteran Bollywood actress Sharmila Tagore stressed the need for sensitising police and the community to stop sexual abuse of women and urged men to support the cause.
“Together we can activate community, police, judges, women, law enforcement agencies to make them learn their responsibilities,” she said.