Death for rape

Sir, - I refer to the report (The Hindu, April 4) that the National Commission for Women has rejected death penalty for rape except in child rape and gang rape.

If the punishment for rape is the same as that for murder, namely sentence of death, the offender would as well murder the victim and cause disappearance of the evidence of rape.

In this context, I may narrate my own experience in a rape case in which the accused had been committed to sessions for trial.

In the course of the gruelling cross examination, the victim broke down and admitted she was a willing and consenting party and that she had raised an alarm only when unexpectedly her aunt came on the scene, just to create an impression of her innocence, but, at what cost to the poor accused who had to suffer a terrible ordeal, though mercifully acquitted!

A. V. Srinivasan,

Chennai

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