The West Bengal assembly today unanimously passed the ‘Aparajita’ bill, making it the first state to amend central laws related to rape, gang-rape, and sexual crimes against children. The bill mandates the death penalty for those convicted of rape resulting in death or leaving the victim in a vegetative state. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee dedicated it to a 31-year-old trainee doctor who was raped and murdered. She emphasized the need for social reforms to prevent such crimes and urged the opposition to ensure the bill’s quick implementation.
