In this context, a recent discussion I happened to witness between a human rights activist and a few friends has surprised me. The activist accused the media for being irresponsible in reporting this case by giving unnecessary importance and gravity. I was bewildered by what I heard. Maybe because I personally felt that the media was not giving this case the magnitude of seriousness that it deserved. Awareness against such hideous acts is the best remedy when we do not have a law to strongly punish such criminals. Therefore, it was shocking for me to see someone talking about the right of such a criminal.
He begged to differ by adding that the culprit might not be as loathsome as projected because there is a difference between killing someone by cutting into pieces and cutting a dead body into pieces. The culprit, he said, chopped off the body after she died when he tried to make her unconscious. I felt that it makes him even more dangerous. A person who can maintain a controlled state of mind after kidnapping a young girl, chop her off in various pieces (alive or dead), keep her in a refrigerator, scatter the body parts all over the country, collect ransom, gamble in a casino and lead a normal life cannot be human. As per the investigating officers, he does not event repent or is remorseful about what he has done.
It’s hard to imagine a teacher who influences another student to be an accomplice in a crime and murders someone who lived on rent in his house and took care of his infant daughter. Only the thought of the incident is enough to send a chill down the spine and make anyone shudder.
I just wonder why everyone cannot have a similar opinion about the punishment for such a crime or criminal. Maybe I had never thought that I would come across a different opinion on this case. Or maybe, activists are a different breed—logical, sensible, level-headed, humane, radical, just and impartial. Whatever, I never seem to understand why human rights activists always advocate for the aggressor, not the victims. In this case too, why aren’t they talking about the human rights of Khyati and her family? Why are they only talking of the human rights of the culprit?
There cannot be a debate on the fact that everyone should get an unbiased and impartial trial before being convicted. But the law should be amended to have provisions of capital punishment for criminals such as Khyati´s murderer. I agree it will not put a full stop to such crimes but it will definitely make others like him think a thousand times before attempting such a barbaric act. It will go a long way in guaranteeing the right of others to live.
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