States must punish people responsible for honour killings: HM

[Shakti Vahini]

States must punish people responsible for honour killings: HM New Delhi, Sep 2 : Describing 'Honour Killings' as murder, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has called upon States to give stringent punishment to those involved in such heinous crimes. Admitting that he had assured Parliament to ''define'' honour killing during a debate on this issue, the Home Minister yesterday said it could not be separated from murder and people committing it must be tried for murder and abetment of murder. ''Honour killings amount to murder. It must be investigated, prosecuted and punished,'' he said. Asked what steps the Centre was planning to take to prevent and stop such honour killings, he said law and order being state subject, they have the sole responsibility in punishing those responsible for such crimes. However, when informed that many a times caste panchayats of villages in states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh were involved in such honour killings and they get away as no action is taken by politicians due to vote bank politics, the Home Minister said, ''I don't agree with this approach. I am sure there must be many people in states who share concern for such acts and will take action to bring those guilty of such crimes to book.'' --UNI www.shaktivahini.org www.mediacoalition.in www.indialawyers.wordpress.com www.mediacoalition.wordpress.com www.savearravali.wordpress.com Delhi Office : 011- 42870188 Faridabad Office : 0129- 4045365

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