Six-year-old gangraped by sweepers: Women activists urge strict action, change in Law

Women Activist on 16 September condemned the alleged gang-rape of a six-year-old girl by sweepers at a government school in Rajasthan`s Barmer and took a dig on the government and the Indian judiciary for the unrushed action on rape cases.
Speaking to ANI, Women Activist Gunjan Agarwal said it is a big failure on the part of Indian judiciary.

"What happened in Rajasthan is shocking. What I understand is that it is a big failure on the part of Indian law. Law takes so much time in cases like this that is why there is no stop to such cases. Cases in court run for years and years that there is no fear of law among such people. And these is the reason why these people think that they can get away by doing anything they want," she said.

Further lashing out at the government for emboldening the rapists' spirits by meting out unhurried justice to the victims, she further said that there is a need for changes in the Law and the school management.

Another women activist Swashati Ghosh said that the culprits must get adequate punishment under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) 2012 along with the IPC Section 376 (Punishment for rape).

"It is very unfortunate as there has been such series of incidents that has been taking place across India. It is a very worrisome issue and I hope the two sweepers will be punished in an exemplary way..school management should take care that students are safe and such incidents don't occur," she added.

According to reports, the police filed a complaint on the basis of the victim's father's statement, which stated that the class 2 student was tied to a table near the school's washroom and gangraped by sweepers. Police detained two men, who are both sweepers of the school. 

-ANI