Death is a gift, not punishment

TIRUCHY: The conviction of eight in the Udumalaipet honour killing case has evoked mixed reactions. While anti-caste campaigners welcome the verdict, anti-death penalty campaigners were guarded in their reaction.

Anti-caste campaigners said the verdict would act as a deterrent and send a strong message to casteist forces. However, those opposing capital punishment are of the opinion that the accused could have been awarded life terms. “Death is the not the punishment they deserve. They should spend their lifetime in jail and repent for their mistakes,” they said.

As details of the verdict came through, social media was flooded with posts for and against the sentence. Kumaragurunathan Pratheeepan wrote on Facebook, “The convicts require severe and rigorous punishment. But, is death penalty right? In a way it is an institutional murder. Lifelong rigorous imprisonment is severe than death sentence. Because, death is a gift, not punishment.”

Anti-death penalty campaigner A S Selvam wrote: “Even human rights activists are welcoming the verdict. It is because of the cruelty of caste that is prevailing.” Dalit activist Janaki Raja posted on FB, “Shankar’s murder was brutal. Yet I would say ‘Abolish Death Penalty”. Ravi Kumar wrote: “Justice triumphed ; Caste defeated. I would be happy, if the higher court commutes the death sentence to 40 years of RI.”

Srinivasan had a different view. His post read, “Though I am against death penalty, I do not want to boast as human rights activist by commenting against the death sentence awarded to the communal forces.”
Inigo Pious wrote, “Court verdicts are meant to reform society. Death penalty will not make Gousalya’s father remorseful.”