March 10
INDIA:
'Number of executions much higher than 55'
If you were told that Dhananjoy Chatterjee, executed last year for rape
and murder of a schoolgirl, was only the 55th to be hanged since
Independence, here is an eyeopener: The People's Union for Democratic
Rights (PUDR) has unearthed government records which show that 1,422
executions were carried out just in one single decade (1953-1964). If this
is the figure for a decade the real number of executions in the country
should be manifold.
PUDR found this startling information in the appendix of the Law
Commission's 35th report on the death sentence. In fact, the commission's
report gives a statewise breakup of executions in the period 1953-64.
During the decade, Tamil Nadu topped the list with 485 executions followed
by 397 in UP. Punjab and Andhra executed 140 and 119 people during the
same period.
Disputing claims that government does not maintain information on
executions, PUDR has demanded that given the nature and depth of
statistical detail on crime maintained by National Crime Records Bureau it
is impossible that executions would be left out.
PUDR has demanded that actual figures be revealed. "The continued
suppression of information by the various agencies of the State is a
deliberate attempt at misinformation," PUDR secretary Deepika Tandon said.
Govt mulling stringent law against rape: Patil
Home minister Shivraj Patil said on Wednesday that the government was
considering enactment of a stringent law to act as a deterrent against the
heinous crime of rape.
Replying to questions in the Rajya Sabha, Patil said: "A Bill had already
been introduced in 1994, and then referred to the standing panel which
recommended certain amendments in the light of several court judgments and
suggestions by experts."
Earlier, the members expressed concern over rise in rape cases, especially
of minors, and wanted to know what steps the government was taking to
prevent such a heinous crime. BJP's Sushma Swaraj wanted to know why
capital punishment should not be included in the proposed law.
Patil said the Law Commission and the Malimath panel report were against
capital punishment.
(source: The Times of India)
