Nirbhaya’s Rapist is Right About the Death Penalty

This asshole tries to justify his assault and murder of a woman because she was out late at night. Well, that’s expected. A rapist take responsibility for his actions? Never!

He’s right about one thing though. The death sentence for rape per se is a terrible idea. I’d written about this earlier as well. Of course, it hardly applies to this particular case now does it? Nirbhaya was murdered, and not just raped. She was tortured as well. But he doesn’t have enough intelligence to see the difference. Anyway that’s his problem, not ours.

Instituting the death penalty for rape will only delay the victim’s trial and suffering further. The appeals process will take longer as the sentence is sure to be contested all the way to the Supreme Court. Then the President will take his own sweet time (probably a decade) to deny or grant pardon. And only then will it happen. Minimum time frame: 20 years.

To make things worse, this will put victims in even greater danger. There is now an incentive to kill her rather than leave her alive. I don’t know about you, but I think that being raped is does NOT mean the victim life is “ruined”. She deserves a chance to rebuild – hopefully with the guy safely locked away for a long, long time. She doesn’t deserve to be a cold corpse in addition to being a rape victim.

So no – I do not support the death penalty for rape. At all. And in that, I feel the low life rapist of Nirbhaya has a point.

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6 thoughts on “Nirbhaya’s Rapist is Right About the Death Penalty”

  1. Yeah! He doesn’t deserve a Capital Punishment That takes around 20 years! He deserves a slow painful and brutal death! That could be an emotional me speaking!

    But while we look into the problem, What would actually be a solution? For a man who has had to deal with the trial , being exposed to media and all the criticism, and if he still doesn’t feel the slightest feel of guilt, can we just imagine the situation somewhere in a rural place of India where the media is still untouched or people have not been much aware???

    Where are we going to as a Nation? Can we ever find a solution to women’s safety?? We say its the attitude of the people that has to change! But How?? The large question still remains!

    Reply

    • In reply to Bilna Sandeep

      Yes, there’s no easy answer is there? But it’s true though – people’s attitude has to change. It’s the only true solution. I guess like all good things, it’s going to take time and effort to come by. Probably long after I’m dead though as far as India is concerned.

      Reply

  2. I agree with you for a slightly different reason.
    You’ll hate me for saying it. But here it goes.

    Disclaimer: Lets discuss events of only adults [no crime on/of children discussed here].

    The no-frills rape of an adult is sex without consent. Sex per-se isn’t a crime. It doesn’t physically injure the victim (I’ll come to the emotional part), as does other crimes like murder or chopping of limbs nor does it render the victim a lifelong disadvantage like accidents/cheating. In cases like murder or extreme violence or even (some extreme cases) cheating leads to a person living in abject poverty and usually live a life of hell, especially in their older years. Imagine an old person in 80s, unable to earn, his/her life long savings cheated away, now unable to feed himself/herself… begging.. shamed everyday for who was once a healthy providing member of the family.. Isn’t the outcome here just as cruel as rape?

    Some part of the emotional pain that rape causes is also due to the unnecessary importance given to virginity or sex. Sex is as enjoyable/disgusting act as some other human acts. Remove the morality and shame associated with it and we may be on a rational plane for discussing the punishment.

    But, just rape isn’t what usually happens. It comes with .. cheating, intimidation, violence, death, cruelty, unfair investigations etc., all of which must be punishable offenses.

    I think capital punishment is not right for every rape. The quantum of punishment must be decided on the cruelty, violence and suffering of the victim.

    Any “reasonable” punishment is a deterrent for a person who plans and commits a crime. For a psychologically ill person, it isn’t. In which case, we decide whether the person can commit the crime again and if so, can he/she be reformed/cured and if not can they cause another crime behind bars and only in those cases where there is no hope should we give capital punishment.

    For a person who plans a crime, capital punishment isn’t anymore deterrent than a life-term. But if he/she has been cruel to commit a crime, then they’ll be a little more cruel to avoid getting caught when they can.

    Marginal increase in punishment shouldn’t fall below the effect of marginal increase in cruelty/offense.

    Reply

    • In reply to Murali

      You’re absolutely right. Ideally I suppose we should aim (some time in the far future) when the crime of rape is treated on par with grievous assault. But as you said, I feel there are extra components like violation of privacy, intimidation etc, and the should be additional punishments for that.

      Reply

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