Abolish capital punishment: Rights activists

Members of human rights organisations in the City on Saturday condemned the continuation of the colonial tradition of awarding capital punishment to those convicted of murder in the country.

At a small convention on capital punishment, Nagaragere Ramesh, the convener, said even though some European countries which had originally started the concept of gallows, have abandoned it, it is ridiculous that India continues such a brutal tradition.

“The worst part is many sadistically celebrate whenever a person is hanged,” he said.

Hanging, no deterrent

Referring to the recent hanging of Afzal Guru and Ajmal Kasab, the participants claimed that hanging or capital punishment does not reflect our society as civil, but may attract an untoward response from those supporting the convicts.

K Channabasappa, a retired judge, called for a better system which involves the rehabilition of convicts instead of simply putting them to death. “Recently, the nation demanded death to the culprits in the Delhi rape case,” hs said. “Today, in Madhya Pradesh, a Swiss national was allegedly gang-raped. Therefore, the concept of hanging must be revisited and criminals must be sensitised against crime and if possible, they should be given a chance to reform.”

Members of the National Confederation of Human Rights Organisations and People’s Democratic Forum were present at the discussion.