To tell the truth it sends shivers down my spine whenever I am reading, writing or talking about it. I am talking here of the most beastly of all crimes against humanity. In fact even beastly is an understatement. Have you guessed it right?
Justice Arjit Pasayat had aptly remarked once, “While a murderer destroys the physical frame of the victim, a rapist degrades and defiles the soul of a helpless female."
Going by what he said rape becomes a bigger crime than murder. And therefore if there is death or life sentence for murder, then for rape what should it be?
And then here we have people from various walks of life who even raise slogans against death penalty to rapists. The sound logic they give is that capital punishment will not solve the problem. It may in fact lead to the murder of the victim. And they advocate the need for stringent application of existing laws than otherwise.
Agreed capital punishment is no solution. Neither to rape nor to murder or for that matter any other crime. However it in some cases may act as a deterrent. Maybe that is what made L K Advani raise the issue in Parliament once. And perhaps the reason why it ebbed as fast as it had picked up fervour was due to the apparent callousness of whom the society calls women’s rights activists.
One question does strike the mind. There could be a loophole in giving capital punishment to rapists. But where is the law without one then? Agreed there is life involved here. But there is life involved even when a woman loses her life to a gender crime?
Where is the same furore whenever any woman or girl is raped? Talk of death penalty to rapists, then all are up in arms. Is the life of a suspected criminal overrated compared to that of a hapless rape victim? Or is the plight of the victim underrated?
Is the stress more on understanding the mind of the criminal and less the mind of the victim after she is subjected to this should I say torture or do you have a stronger word?
The real need is to finish this deplorable crime. A preventive mechanism is needed. Italy just passed an emergency rape law. The law stipulates death for minor’s rape and for rape-cum-murder cases. It also talks of street patrolling by unarmed retired soldiers and cops who’ll be well equipped with mobiles and radios. This is a well-thought out step since it tries to negate the possibility of the crime rather than acting after the crime is done.
After the gruesome act is committed, scars remain forever and prevent one from leading a normal life. So easy for persons like me and you who are used to living normal lives, to assert a no to death penalty. Agreed a rapist too needs help. But tell me which criminal doesn’t?
Another argument is why not life imprisonment? Why death penalty? Well, the answer is just waiting to be told. In the under-developed and the developing nations like our own, the prison system is not methodical enough that’ll ensure that the convict is behind bars forever. Also on account of his “supposedly” good behaviour, he may once again run scot-free….
Why take a chance?
The victim is ruined physically, mentally and psychologically. No need to go through any laws for that. One law will be enough. Break your own silence to this crime. Ask yourself: “Have I become immune to it? Has the frequency of this gory evil increased manifold?” You will find the answer.
Also ask yourself, “Do I want to make the society I live in safe for my mom, sister, daughter and myself?” Here too you will find the same answer.
Well then join hands in the fight. Together we can stand to destroy this crime.
What are we waiting for?
(The views expressed by the author in the blog are his/her own)