In the wake of growing outrage over a recent spurt in sexual assault cases, Karnataka government today decided to strengthen the Goonda Act to book rape accused under it and to set up 10 more fast track courts.
The decision came as a Police inspector was arrested today on charge of trying to dilute the case of alleged rape of a woman in a car here on July 10, as the issue of recent sexual assaults here rocked both the Houses of Legislature.
The outrage grew in intensity after the July 2 alleged rape of a six-year old girl student in a public school came to light on Tuesday, with Opposition BJP and other parties putting the government in the line of fire over the incidents.
"Government has decided to further strengthen the existing Goonda Act by way of amendment to book the accused who have committed rape in different cases in different places," Home Minister K J George told reporters after a high-level meeting of top police officers called by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
George said a proposal to amend the Goonda Act has been submitted to the Law Department and strict instructions issued to police officers to immediately file FIRs against the offenders allegedly involved in sexual assaults.
The government has decided to set up 10 more fast track courts in addition to the existing as many courts, he said adding Law Minister T B Jayachandra is already in talks with the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court D H Waghela. "This will help in speedy disposal of rape cases," he added.
A Police inspector was meanwhile arrested on charge of trying to dilute the case of alleged rape of a 22-year-old woman in a car, invoking the amended relevant section in the IPC for the first time in the state.
Mohammad Rafique attached to Pulikeshinagar police station had been arrested, Siddaramaiah said, as the opposition BJP stepped up attack on government in the Assembly accusing it of trying to shield the policeman.
"It is a clear case of omission. He is arrested today," Sidddaramaiah said, adding it was for the first time that an Investigating Officer had been arrested in such a case.
