Mamta Sharma urges courts to expedite verdict in rape cases

Former National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Mamta Sharma on Monday welcomed the decision to award life imprisonment to all five accused in the Dhaula Kuan gang-rape case and called upon the country's judicial system to adopt a sensitive attitude for speedy justice in such sensitive cases.

"The case dragged on for a long time and that's why cases of rape are not coming down. The court should also adopt a sensitive attitude so that verdict comes sooner in cases like these," Sharma told ANI here.

"I believe that it is a matter of happiness that they have been convicted and given life imprisonment, but the amount of fine imposed on them is too paltry. The fine should be such that people should know that if one commits a crime, then one could face harsher punishment, and these things are important," she added.

Earlier today, a Delhi court awarded life imprisonment to all five accused in the 2010 abduction and gang-rape of a 30-year-old call centre executive in the Dhaula Kuan area of the national capital. The court also asked all the accused to pay a fine of Rs. 50,000.

The accused namely Shamshad alias Khutkan, Usman alias Kale, Shahid alias Chhota Billi, Iqbal alias Bada Billi and Kamruddin, have been booked for the sectional offences of kidnapping (365), gang rape (376 (2g)), criminal intimidation (506) and sharing common intention (34) under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The victim, who hailed from the North-East, was abducted and raped on November 24, 2010.

Following the incident, the Delhi Police ordered all Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firms in the national capital region to ensure that cars with security guards would drop all of their female employees after the ending of their respective shifts.