Rapists will not be given any mercy: President Ram Nath Kovind

President Ram Nath Kovind rejected the rapist's plea in connection to the Nirbhaya case of 2012. Speaking about his move, the president says rapists will be tried and no mercy will be given to them.

"Rape convicts under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act should not be allowed mercy petition," said President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday. He added, "Women safety is a serious issue. Rape convicts under the POCSO Act should not have the right to file mercy petition. Parliament should review mercy petitions."

The big statement by the President has come at a time when a mercy petition filed by one of the convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya murder case is pending with him. This comes in right after the encounter of accused in the Hyderabad rape and murder case.

Vinay Sharma, one of the four convicts who were sentenced to death for the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedical student on a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012, filed the mercy petition before President Kovind. The victim, now widely known as "Nirbhaya", succumbed to severe injuries just days after the brutal assault. The incident led to massive protests across the nation, with many demanding that the four convicts be executed on priority.

Speaking about the incident a week ago, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called for the rejection of the mercy petition to set an example for others who may feel inclined to commit such a crime in the future. "I think strict action should be taken in such cases so that people think 10 times before doing something like this. This is why the Delhi government recommended that the President should not show any leniency in this case," said Kejriwal addressing the media.