Even as protests rage across the country against the recent rape incident in Uttar Pradesh, the Madras High Court on Wednesday grumbled that India has become a land of rapists.
The holy 'bharathabhoomi' (India) has turned into a land of rapists, where a rape occurs every 15 minutes, the court said.
The HC was hearing a case related to the rape of a migrant worker from Assam in Tamil Nadu's Tirupur district. Advocate A.P. Suryaprakasam, who appeared for the victim, told the court that sexual predators are targeting women from vulnerable sections of the society such as migrant workers, unsound minds, mentality challenged girls, the poor and the downtrodden.
During the hearing, the court observed that India, a holy land, has turned into a land of rapists.
The 22- year-old migrant worker, who was staying in Coimbatore, was allegedly raped by five persons in Tirupur district. Police have arrested three persons in connection with the case and are hunting for the remaining accused.
The court's 'land of rapists' comment came on a day when widespread protests were reported from several states against the alleged gang-rape and death of a 19-year-old woman at Hathras in Uttar Pradesh.
The woman was allegedly raped on September 14. After her condition deteriorated, she was referred to the Delhi's Safdarjung hospital where she breathed her last on Tuesday.
She was cremated in the early hours of Wednesday, with her family alleging the local police forced them to conduct the last rites in the dead of night.
