Nandita Feels Death Sentence Can't Stop Rapes

Nandita Feels Death Sentence Can't Stop Rapes
January 8th, 2013 by IANS

Nandita Das

Social activist and actress Nandita Das believes that death sentence cannot act as a deterrence against a crime like rape.

"I don't believe that death sentence is a solution to stop this because the conviction rate in our country is so low," the 43-year-old said here Monday at the Janki Devi Bajaj Puraskar ceremony.

Recently the gang-rape of a 23-year-old girl in Delhi, who died of her injuries in a Singapore hospital, shocked everyone and triggered nationwide protests demanding new law for the culprits of such crimes.

"Despite all that has been happening, there are still reports of such crimes (rapes) still happening," she said.

Nandita said there are other ways that should instead be adopted.

"In other countries such reports have been filed which state that death sentence has not lowered the graph of such crimes. In fact, the countries where such crimes happen less, they don't even have any such thing as death sentence. Such criminals should instead be brought to speedy trial, social humiliation and other such things," she suggested.

Nandita is aghast at current statements by many that hold women responsible for rapes.

"This accusation that some people have been flinging these days that these crimes and rapes happen because girls wear skirts and other such clothes is utter nonsense. If this was true, then no village woman would be raped," said Nandita who in "Bawandar" played the role of Bhanwari Devi, a low-caste woman from a village in Rajasthan who was allegedly gang-raped in 1992.

Claiming an example from her piece of work, Nandita said, "I made film 'Bawandar' on Bhanwari Devi. Even her face used to be covered, this (rape) should not have happened with her then."

"We hear of a three-year-old girl being raped. Was she found in some nightclub? We should not shame ourselves by giving such excuses," she added.

Do you guys agree with her?

I feel she's right. If there's a death sentence, then police, judges, etc will be more likely to let the perpetrator go free. For the victim, this penalty may be fair, but for officials, especially those who think "boys will be boys", they will let these crimes brush to the side.

Death sentence isn't the answer (unless truly necessary), but there still needs to be charges and jail/prison time for the crime a rapist commits.

Death sentence can't stop rapes: Nandita Das

Social activist and actress Nandita Das believes that death sentence cannot act as a deterrence against a crime like rape.

"I don't believe that death sentence is a solution to stop this because the conviction rate in our country is so low," the 43-year-old said at an award ceremony.

Recently the gang-rape of a 23-year-old girl in Delhi, who died of her injuries in a Singapore hospital, shocked everyone and triggered nationwide protests demanding new law for the culprits of such crimes.

"Despite all that has been happening, there are still reports of such crimes (rapes) still happening," she said.

Nandita said there are other ways that should instead be adopted.

"In other countries such reports have been filed which state that death sentence has not lowered the graph of such crimes. In fact, the countries where such crimes happen less, they don't even have any such thing as death sentence. Such criminals should instead be brought to speedy trial, social humiliation and other such things," she suggested.

Nandita is aghast at current statements by many that hold women responsible for rapes.

"This accusation that some people have been flinging these days that these crimes and rapes happen because girls wear skirts and other such clothes is utter nonsense. If this was true, then no village woman would be raped," said Nandita who in "Bawandar" played the role of Bhanwari Devi, a low-caste woman from a village in Rajasthan who was allegedly gang-raped in 1992.

Claiming an example from her piece of work, Nandita said, "I made film 'Bawandar' on Bhanwari Devi. Even her face used to be covered, this (rape) should not have happened with her then."

"We hear of a three-year-old girl being raped. Was she found in some nightclub? We should not shame ourselves by giving such excuses," she added.

I don't believe in capital punishment ... I like them to Rot in prison like hell and everyday go mad between the prison cells... With death penalty bas***ds suffer just for a min and get off easy with out pain.

Originally posted by: Rehanism

Perfectly true on both the points..Capital punishment does nothing to deter crime in any way. Over 100 countries have done away with capital punishment and they haven't seen any rise in crimes - in some crime rate has actually fallen. While several other countries that impose capital punishment frequently are some of the most unsafe places to be in, not to mention worst human rights abusers..

Death penalty is not the answer. Social humiliation or measures like chemical castration are better alternatives. Introduction of death penalty might lead criminals to kill their prey and wipe off all evidence. They may become more vicious than they are now. Judges in India are misogynists already, they might make legal proceedings even more complicated and lengthy since death penalty is the strongest punishment.

I feel once crime is proven the criminal's life must be made worse than hell. Don't give him death, make him live through hell and pay for his crime every moment!

Originally posted by: Skepblun

Death penalty is not the answer. Social humiliation or measures like chemical castration are better alternatives. Introduction of death penalty might lead criminals to kill their prey and wipe off all evidence. They may become more vicious than they are now. Judges in India are misogynists already, they might make legal proceedings even more complicated and lengthy since death penalty is the strongest punishment.

I feel once crime is proven the criminal's life must be made worse than hell. Don't give him death, make him live through hell and pay for his crime every moment!

India has death penalty only in name! In the last one decade, only 2 people have been hanged. One was a rapist, who was hanged after 14 years of trial and the other was Ajmal Kasab!