'Impose death penalty for rape cases in India'

In April this year, a 14-year-old girl set herself ablaze after being allegedly gang raped by five men in Mathura, India. Her condition was critical when she reached the hospital and more than half of her body had been affected. Later on, the rape victim lost the battle of life. In the recent past, a 13-year-old girl died after jumping out of a moving private bus to avoid molestation by some youth in India. Rape incidents in India have become a trend that indicates women in the country are terribly unsafe.

The Human Development Report released in 2014 by the United Nations Development Program revealed that a rape was reported in India every 30 minutes.

According to another report released by India’s National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) last year, every day, 93 women were raped in the country.

Many rape victims do not lodge a complaint because of shame and family embarrassment. Some corrupt politicians or influential figures themselves have been involved in rape cases.

The politicians of India are showing cowardice because they fear if they stand in favour of harsh punishment on rape and abuse of women, they would lose their vote bank. Criminals also continue to take undue advantage of already lenient laws.

It is important to note that political parties and some groups say the death penalty is inhumane, torturous, and merciless. However, in many countries, there is a death penalty in cases of rape and murder. A study done by University of Colorado Denver in 2007, showed a direct relation between imposing the death penalty and a reduction in crime rates. The Emory University in the US studied nationwide data to conclude that each execution resulted, on average, in 18 fewer murders.

It is essential to enforce death penalty for rapists in India. There is no denying that capital punishment and severe laws are the most powerful tools to curb such crimes everywhere in the world.

- The reader is a Pakistani office manager based in Dubai