Jaipur, July 21: In its first, a court in Rajasthan has given death sentence to a 19-year-old for raping seven-month-old. The decision comes under a new anti-rape law that has been imposed in the state that allows the death penalty in the rape of minors under 12 years of age. This is the first death sentence in the state after the tougher sexual abuse law was passed by the state assembly in March this year.

A special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences court in Alwar today declared the sentence in the sexual assault of a seven-month-old under the new law. The accused is the first one to be tried under the new law on sexual assault.

The new law states, “Punishment for rape on a woman up to 12 years of age. Whoever commits rape on a woman up to twelve years of age shall be punished with death, or rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than fourteen years but which may extend to imprisonment for life which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person’s natural life, and shall also be liable to fine.”

It must be noted that after Madhya Pradesh passed it in December last year, Rajasthan became the second state in the country to have brought such a law in force. Meanwhile,  Haryana has also initiated making similar amendments to the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Reports inform that the accused had taken away the minor on May 9. The child was later found crying in a football field which was about a kilometre from their home in Laxmangarh. According to media reports, the baby was then admitted to Alwar hospital for 20 days. Soon after the medical examination confirmed rape. the accused was arrested.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 21, 2018 05:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).