MP to bring law against stone pelting, says CM Chouhan

The Madhya Pradesh government is set to enact an law against stone pelting, after several such incidents - during rallies organised of Lord Ram - were reported in the past months, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said while addressing a press conference in Bhopal. "It is 'raj dharma' to take action against criminals. Stone pelting is not an ordinary violation... that is why it requires an extraordinary law,"he said and added These kinds of criminals are not simple offenders. They won't be spared."

Under the new law those found guilty of will pay for damages caused; if they can't, any property they own will be auctioned off to pay for compensation. Damages will be assessed by a senior state official and a claims tribunal will issue the order to recover compensation. There will be a provision to complete the process in three months. Interest will be charged in case compensation is not paid on time.The proposed law, which the state says draws on similar legislation in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka, will be placed before the cabinet. In December stones were thrown at a rallies held in Indore and Ujjain, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, to raise funds for the Ram temple in UP's Ayodhya.