Jumping into judging the judgment of the judges regarding death sentence can be tricky. It's veracity needs to be looked beyond the narrow prism of caste, race or religion. Dastardly acts provoke dastardly response. The debate about Capital Punishment and taking law into own hands in a civilized society is probably as old as the civilization itself.
The squabble over the efficacy of death sentence reminds of one, granted to the perpetrators of the rapists of the girl in Delhi a few years ago. The gloat over the death sentence awarded to those responsible for this heinous act was highest amongst women as they could relate to the agony of the victim. Males were certainly anguished by this heinous act, but the outpouring outrage from the ladies is quite understandable. It probably explains why more males than females question the righteousness of the death penalty, especially in case of rape.
Yet, the contrast of opinions is quite conspicuous. Before passing some armchair judgment, let's take a pause and contemplate by stepping into the shoes of the victim's family, be it Nirbhaya's (the girl raped in Delhi) or those tore apart by bombs in Bombay. It would be easy for me to preach eye for an eye is wrong, State has no right to kill an individual, blah blah. But would I be talking at the same breath if I can relate the victim to one of my near and dear one ? I don't think so.
In America death penalty is a state subject, most conservative states have it, most liberal states don't. The nation is evenly divided on the issue. Here the family of the victim is allowed to watch the execution of the perpetrator. They do it for a reason. It may not be humane, but it is human. I have no illusions to be super human. Normally I won't hurt a fly, let alone watch someone die. But God forbid, if one day I am invited to such an event I will take the first row. No wonder in movies nobody sheds a tear when the bad guy falls.
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