(REOPENS NRG 9)

Punjab SC/ST commission has written letters to the state's Chief Secretary and Director General of Police to take strict action to curb acts of sexual violence against women and to strengthen laws relating to women. The state SC/ST commission chairman Rajesh Bagha told reporters here that the 14-year-old girl's gang-rape was a 'shameful' incident and police should take strict actions to curb such crimes. "Our commission has looked deeply into the Jalandhar gang-rape case and we have written to the state's Chief Secretary and Director General of Police demanding strict action and stronger laws to curb such incidents in the future," Bagha said. Meanwhile, the condition of Jalandhar gang-rape victim, whose ruptured uterus was removed and intestines repaired, today continued to remain critical. She would be observed closely for the next 72 hours since her condition remained critical even after the surgery, doctors attending on her said.