September 3, 2024: The Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government tabled an anti-rape bill in the state Assembly on Tuesday. The bill seeks to bring amendments to central laws dealing with offences of rape, gang-rape, and sexual assault.

Titled Aparajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024, the proposed amendments include punishing offences of rape and gang-rape with life in prison or death. The bill also provides for the death penalty for persons convicted of rape if their result in the victim’s death or leave her in a vegetative state.

The bill was tabled by the Mamata Banerjee government against the backdrop of ongoing protests over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

While speaking on the bill, Mamata Banerjee asked Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari to urge state Governor CV Ananda Bose to grant his assent to the bill.