E-Paper
Hangman's security upped, voices for death rise
To hang or not to hang -- the death punishment awarded to a rape and murder convict is sharply dividing West Bengal. Countering a campaign -- mostly led by intellectuals -- that wants capital punishment abolished, more and more people are demanding death for Dhananjoy Chatterjee.
To hang or not to hang -- the death punishment awarded to a rape and murder convict is sharply dividing the West Bengal society.
Countering a campaign -- mostly led by intellectuals -- that wants capital punishment abolished, more and more people are demanding death for Dhananjoy Chatterjee.
The pro-death brigade, which has some known names but mostly includes ordinary women, has begun holding public meetings and writing to authorities asking for death to Chatterjee.
Chatterjee was held guilty of raping and killing a 14-year-old schoolgirl on March 5, 1990 in Kolkata.
He fought his case up to the Supreme Court that upheld the lower courts' death verdict against him.
His plea for clemency was earlier turned down by the president. But last week, just a day before he was to be hanged, his execution was stayed following the intervention of the Supreme Court and President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
The reprieve came because Kalam forwarded a mercy petition to the home ministry seeking its opinion on the matter.
While Chatterjee's fate hangs in the balance, a debate on the efficacy of capital punishment as a deterrent to crimes is raging.
The state government has recommended death for the convict, but several top leaders in the ruling Marxist party have spoken out against capital punishment.
Famous Bengalis like writer Sunil Ganguly, author and Magsaysay winner Mahesweta Devi, filmmaker Mrinal Sen, actress-director Aparna Sen and many others have spoken against capital punishment.
Some of them even wrote to Kalam asking him to remit Chatterjee's punishment.
But most of Kolkata seemed to want to see Chatterjee dead.
Actors Biplab Chatterjee and Madhabi Mukherjee, immortalised in Satyajit Ray's films, addressed public rallies demanding death for the convict.
"I ask on behalf of all mothers and daughters to hang this beast (Chatterjee). Why is he still alive 14 years after committing the crime?" asked Mukherjee.
They said if Chatterjee was let off with a lighter sentence like a life term, it would give birth to many more Chatterjees.
Several voluntary organisations and the school where the victim, Hetal Parekh, studied have held meetings demanding that the convict should be hanged.
A survey by city-based English daily showed that 60 percent of the those asked wanted Chatterjee to be hanged.
Despite a longstanding debate, the Indian government has never considered withdrawing capital punishment, but have only begun considering a more 'humane' method of execution such as by lethal injection.
Several prominent Indians were signatory to a 1977 convention in Stockholm against capital punishment.
Meanwhile, police have enhanced the security of hangman Nata Mullick, who would execute Chatterjee if the President turns down his clemency plea.
Mullick said police had asked him and his family members not to go anywhere without informing them.
This is because police reportedly feared that an attempt could be made on Mullick's life to scuttle the execution as getting another hangman could be a problem.
