Should rapists be awarded death penalty ?
It was shocking to read that yesterday a nine-year-old Russian girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by two suspected Indian tourists at the Arambol beach in north Goa.
Goa, considered as paradise on earth, is fast becoming a highly dangerous place to venture. The recent spate of crime, particularly against foreign tourists, is really alarming. The need of the hour is to curb the crime or Goa would disappear from tourists’ itinerary. Rape and murder happening in Goa is not good for India's image in rest of the world.
The police administration & other concerned authorities should work to protect the tourists not to hide or destroy the evidences.The government needs to be more responsible and must take steps and ensure protection for women & children. Also the police need to responsibly investigate the number of rape cases. Strict punishment must be meted out to offenders. Tackling anti-social elements should be given top priority.
Rape is present as at least one of every four crimes recorded in India. Every hour, there are at least 20 crimes committed against women across the country. And out of all rape cases, only about 20 per cent actually see conviction for the offenders.
According to the latest crime statistics released by the Union Home Ministry’s National Crime Bureau, 53 women become victims of rape daily. Shockingly, Delhi topped the list with 4,134 cases (nearly one-fifth of the total crime against women) followed by cyber city Hyderabad with 1,755 cases in 2006. Among the States, Andhra Pradesh had the highest number of ‘fair sex’ crimes --- 21,484 cases or over 13 per cent of the total cases, with Uttar Pradesh a close second with 9.9 per cent. To Madhya Pradesh went the ignominious honour of the highest number of rape and molestation cases (2,900).
The basic reason why the rapists are not afraid of committing the crime is the loopholes in our legal process. As it is our judiciary walks with snail pace and on top of it the weak laws make it worse.
When every minute rape happening in our country there needs to be discussion on whether or not there should be death penalty for the crime of rape?
While every rape is condemned in the society, but the growing number of rape incidents are alarming. Rape is an abhorrent crime and an abominable sin. This heinous crime is forbidden in all the societies & all the religions, and all people of sound thinking and pure human nature reject it.
Without a second thought, the rapists should be given death penalty. Rape might not be the end of life for a girl but it is something worse than that, it is like leaving the victim half dead.
Many penologists and jurists believe that a rapist deserves to be punished as seriously as murder is. If serious crimes were meted out with stricter and harsher punishments, their numbers would reduce considerably.
Justice Arjit Pasayat observed: "While a murderer destroys the physical frame of the victim, a rapist degrades and defiles the soul of a helpless female." I think yes “.
Saudi Arabia has the lowest rape cases in the world; the country follows a strict interpretation of Islam that calls for the death penalty for murder, rape, drug trafficking and armed robbery. Recently a panel of three judges in Saudi Arabia has executed fifty-six people this year under laws that allow the death penalty for rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking. In extreme cases, the convict is executed and his body crucified in public. Be it any country the rapist should be given death penalty so they do have the fear of the law.
Rapists should not be sent to jail, where they would get free food, shelter, medication etc. They should be immediately hanged till death. For this, we do need better investigation, equipped with the latest forensic technology and timely investigation to not let these demons escape from their heinous crimes. Fast track courts or special courts should be set up to deal with rape cases which need urgent justice.
It is time for the law makers to formulate more stringent laws. Today laws in our country have so many loopholes that it is very easy for the rapist to walk free. The sentence of punishment ranges from six months to six years. If the accused is influential, he may even expiate by paying huge amounts of money and get exculpated.
We should set an example by giving death penalty. This is the only way to stop rape case in India, which happens almost every day in our country.
In today’s Bangalore Mirror, News Paper, In Bangalore Talking, Page no 13 my views on, Should Rapists be awarded death penalty ? is published. Please share your valuable views.
(Pictures courtesy : Bangalore Mirror)
