My name is Swastik Mitra, and I am a class 11 student, just having completed class 10. The reason I am writing this is deeply personal and distressing. Recently, a girl in Jamui  was horrifically harassed in the middle of the road , an incident that has spread fear and anger among us all. This could have been my sister,  or any other student in our school. It is a reality that haunts us every day, knowing that many such incidents occur all over India, sometimes in broad daylight.

In India, a nation that prides itself in its rich culture and heritage, it is disheartening to see such heinous acts rampant. Even our ancient Sanskrit Vedas acknowledge these crimes as grave sins, prescribing severe punishments like the death sentence. It is high time our legal system reflects these values and delivers justice swiftly and surely to deter any such acts from happening ever again.

Statistics reveal that in India, a woman is raped every 16 minutes, as per the National Crime Records Bureau. Behind every number is a person – a woman whose life is permanently impacted. These figures are a grim reminder of the growing menace that threatens the freedom and safety of every woman, every girl, every child.

It's not just the judiciary that needs to act; the root causes must also be addressed. Many young men are influenced by the inappropriate and toxic content available unchecked on the internet, forging a mindset that trivializes the gravity of their actions. There must be stricter regulations on online content to prevent this mentality from spreading.

We call upon the judiciary to administer the harshest punishments to the offenders, reinforcing that India will not tolerate such despicable acts. There should be fast-track courts and mandatory life sentences, or even the death penalty for those who've committed such crimes, to ensure justice is both served and seen to be served.

Let us create a society where girls like me and my sister can walk free without fear, where every woman is respected and protected. Let us reform the system to uphold the safety and dignity of every individual.

Join me in demanding a safer India. Sign this petition to urge the judiciary and the government to take swift action against perpetrators and to regulate harmful content online. Help us build a future where no girl has to fear harassment or assault. Every signature counts. Please lend your voice to this crucial cause.