New Delhi, April 13: Following a public outrage over the gang rape of a minor girl in Jammu and Kashmirs Kathua, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi on Friday declared that her ministry intends to amend the POCSO Act, making provision for death penalty in child rape cases.

"I have been deeply, deeply disturbed by the rape case in Kathua and all the recent rape cases that have happened on children.

"I and the (Women and Child Development) Ministry intend to bring an amendment to the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act asking for the death penalty for rape on children below 12 years," the WCD Minister said in a video message.

Eight people, including mastermind Sanji Ram, have been charged with abduction, rape and murder of the eight-year-old girl from the Bakerwal community in Rasana village in January.

Investigations have revealed that the girl was held in a temple, drugged, repeatedly raped and finally murdered to scare the nomadic Muslim community out of the village.

 

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Jinxi, China: A homeowner in Jinxi, a town southwest of Shanghai, has become the centre of attention after refusing to vacate his house for a motorway project. Workers built the highway around the property after he declined the government's compensation offer, transforming the house into a peculiar landmark.

Huang Ping, the owner of the two-storey house, was offered 1.6 million yuan (approximately Rs 1.9 crore) along with two properties, later increased to three. However, dissatisfied with the deal, he chose to stay. With the highway set to open in spring, Huang now lives at its centre, requiring passage through a large pipe to access the home.

Although Huang regrets the decision, calling it "a big bet" he lost, the house has become a local attraction. Residents and visitors frequently stop by to take pictures of the unusual setup.

To escape the noise and dust from construction, Huang and his grandson spend their days in the town centre, returning home only after work hours. There are concerns that the constant noise from the operational motorway will make peaceful living impossible.