The West Bengal Assembly passed a law mandating death penalties for most rape categories, aiming to address recent high-profile crimes
Evidence suggests the death penalty doesn’t deter rape. The Justice J S Verma committee in 2012 highlighted this lack of deterrence
Rape is an expression of power, not just a crime of passion. Effective response requires understanding these underlying power dynamics
Ensuring women’s security includes better facilities, safety on public transport, and sensitised police forces to encourage reporting of assaults
The Bengal Bill proposes an Aparajita Task Force and special courts. Similar ideas have been suggested before, but implementation varies across states
West Bengal has only three fast-track courts for rape cases, fewer than Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. A more robust response is crucial