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MP governor takes government to task over nuns' rape, CM moots death penalty for culprits

Madhya Pradesh Governor Bhai Mahavir has expressed serious concern over the law and order situation in the state and asserted that it was not good.

Commenting on the rape of nuns at a convent in the tribal area of Jhabua district, Dr Mahavir told newsmen in Raipur that the incident could not be considered normal but should not be taken as a political issue, and added, "We should see to it that the guilty were punished."

Dr Mahavir said such incidents were shameful, particularly for the state concerned. The available figures show that Madhya Pradesh was on top as far as incidents of rape were concerned, he said.

Joining issues with Chief Minister Digvijay Singh on the latter's comment that the governor should also look into the law and order situation in the BJP-ruled states of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan before reaching a conclusion on the situation in Madhya Pradesh, Dr Mahavir said he had no information about the situation in other states. But as far as Madhya Pradesh was concerned, the overall law and order situation was not good, the governor said, adding that he was not making a comparison of the situation in different states.

Dr Mahavir said he had referred to the government a complaint received from a tribal about the rape and murder of his sixteen-year -old daughter and its reply was received after two months. He said the report of the superintendent of police said there was no rape and murder, but the girl committed suicide.

"Even if it was considered a case of suicide, the report lacked details of the reasons and the compulsions which forced the girl to commit suicide," he said.

The governor admitted that the situation in the tribal areas and the condition of the tribals in the state was not satisfactory. Dr Mahavir said he was eager to visit the tribal areas, but could not do so as he was busy at present.

The governor said reports reaching him indicated that the tribals of the state were living in acute poverty and unemployment and ''their means of livelihood were being snatched away''. The reports also point out the inadequate health care in tribal areas and the existing hospitals and dispensaries were also not working properly.

Suggesting that mobile dispensaries should be pressed into service in the tribal and interior areas, he called upon voluntary organisations, including rotary and Lions Clubs, to adopt tribal villages for overall development.

In Jhabua, Chief Minister Digvijay Singh today said the death sentence should be awarded to the culprits involved in the rape of the nuns.

Singh, who arrived in Jhabua this afternoon to personally assess the situation following the incident, also met the victims separately.

Talking to newspersons later, he said the incident was ''shameful'' and ''the guilty should be sentenced to death.''

He said a special police team had been constituted to nab the culprits and police detained some people for interrogation.

Asked if the incident could affect the prospects of his party during the coming assembly election in the state, Singh said the issue should not be politicised. He also refused to comment on Bhai Mahavir's statement expressing concern over the atrocities on women in the state.

He also urged all bishops in the state to inform the district administration about nuns residing in the interior areas and said ensuring a safe and secure environment for them was the foremost responsibility of the government.

UNI

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