Opinion - Letters to the Editor

A definite deterrent

Sir, — Your Editorial "A Barbaric Relic" (April 20) seems to be totally oblivious of the basic fact that punishments are given only as a sequel to unpardonable crimes.

Devil incarnates like Timothy, Osama and Prabakaran cannot be pardoned for their heinous acts. Counselling tolerance towards such personification of sins is wrong. Capital punishment will certainly be a deterrent.

S. Srimoolanathan,

Chennai

* * *

Sir, — I do not agree with you that capital punishment should be done away with. This does not mean that I stand for murder. But the state should always keep the right to award the death sentence to terrorists and criminals who create an atmosphere of terror, fear and distrust among the people.

If Hafeez Mohammad Saeed of the Jaish-e-Mohammad had been awarded the death sentence when he was under the custody of the Indian police, then the hijacking of IC-814 would not have happened and an innocent like Rupin Katyal, who was returning from his honeymoon, would not have got killed. Many terrorist activities such as the attack on the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and Parliament could have been averted. There is no point in showing any mercy to these dreaded criminals and trying to change their hearts.

Shraddha Maheshwari,
Delhi

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