7th Dec 2019 11:12:PM Editorials
Eastern Sentinel Arunachal News

After Hyderabad it’s Unnao. Time difference - seven days. But the tale has been the same, which is of utmost shame for the entire nation. In the eyes of the world, what else India is, other than a failed nation, repeatedly unsuccessful in protecting its daughters and sisters from being subjected to the most despicable atrocities. There is now a tremendous national uproar and overflowing anger which is much evident from the choicest reprimands flowing freely with the clamour for an immediate stop to all these and most strict punishments for culprits. It can be recalled that the same sentiments were witnessed post-Nirbhaya case in 2012. But, these two back-to-back incidents prove that the country hasn’t changed and it’s very unsure when will the next unfortunate incident occur. With this unmistakable reality looming large, it will be praiseworthy if solutions are sought with sincerity with the arc to usher in that atmosphere when women will feel that they are not unsafe and evil-doers will think more than twice before committing crimes of this degree.

It will be rather ridiculous if these two cases are tried to be projected as isolated in character. Had it been so, the criminals couldn’t have mustered courage to commit a similar one even when the nation was boiling in angst after the Hyderabad case. This only cements the fact that the general law and order machinery is facing some serious faults. The Hyderabad incident meanwhile has taken a new turn with the elimination of the four guilty purportedly in an ‘encounter’, for which the police have been showered with endless thanks. And from this euphoric reaction which can be called as quite natural and legitimate, two things emerge. People’s trust on the existing justice delivery system have eroded to a great extent, compelling them to think that for ‘speedy justice’, that’s the way it should be. This ought to be so if NCRB data is given a look. According to its latest report, conviction rate in rape cases in the country was as low as 32.2 % in 2017 and out of the total 1,46,201 cases that went to trial in 2017, only 5,822 resulted in conviction. Lethargic investigations, inordinate delays in presenting chargesheets are very common causes that ultimately results in mockery of justice.

“Don’t let me die and don’t let them escape”- this had been the last words of the Unnao victim. Now that her first wish had remained unfulfilled, it’s now a great obligation for the nation’s justice mitigation channels to fulfill the last one. Meanwhile, the soul-stirring question will continue to chase- how many more Nirbhaya, Hyderabad or Unnao will the country need to  awake ?

After Hyderabad it’s Unnao. Time difference - seven days. But the tale has been the same, which is of utmost shame for the entire nation. In the eyes of the world, what else India is, other than a failed nation, repeatedly unsuccessful in protecting its daughters and sisters from being subjected to the most despicable atrocities. There is now a tremendous national uproar and overflowing anger which is much evident from the choicest reprimands flowing freely with the clamour for an immediate stop to all these and most strict punishments for culprits. It can be recalled that the same sentiments were witnessed post-Nirbhaya case in 2012. But, these two back-to-back incidents prove that the country hasn’t changed and it’s very unsure when will the next unfortunate incident occur. With this unmistakable reality looming large, it will be praiseworthy if solutions are sought with sincerity with the arc to usher in that atmosphere when women will feel that they are not unsafe and evil-doers will think more than twice before committing crimes of this degree.

It will be rather ridiculous if these two cases are tried to be projected as isolated in character. Had it been so, the criminals couldn’t have mustered courage to commit a similar one even when the nation was boiling in angst after the Hyderabad case. This only cements the fact that the general law and order machinery is facing some serious faults. The Hyderabad incident meanwhile has taken a new turn with the elimination of the four guilty purportedly in an ‘encounter’, for which the police have been showered with endless thanks. And from this euphoric reaction which can be called as quite natural and legitimate, two things emerge. People’s trust on the existing justice delivery system have eroded to a great extent, compelling them to think that for ‘speedy justice’, that’s the way it should be. This ought to be so if NCRB data is given a look. According to its latest report, conviction rate in rape cases in the country was as low as 32.2 % in 2017 and out of the total 1,46,201 cases that went to trial in 2017, only 5,822 resulted in conviction. Lethargic investigations, inordinate delays in presenting chargesheets are very common causes that ultimately results in mockery of justice.

“Don’t let me die and don’t let them escape”- this had been the last words of the Unnao victim. Now that her first wish had remained unfulfilled, it’s now a great obligation for the nation’s justice mitigation channels to fulfill the last one. Meanwhile, the soul-stirring question will continue to chase- how many more Nirbhaya, Hyderabad or Unnao will the country need to  awake ?

 


Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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