Capital Punishment

India meted out capital punishment after 11 years to Dhananjoy Chatterjee who was convicted in 1991 for raping & murdering 14 year old Hetal Parekh. The President also rejected his mercy plea. And rightfully so. A rapist & a murderer has no right to live in our society. Dhananjoy was hanged in the early hours of 14th August 2004.

What astonished me of the whole affair was the near celebrity status accorded to a common criminal by the Indian media. His parents were placed under house arrest for the fear of they ending their lives, daily coverage was given to the case in all the leading newspapers. I mean, come on!!! Here was a common criminal who was found guilty of rape & murder & was sentenced to death by the apex court & also the President. The media had no business covering the whole affair in such details. So many people die in India everyday & many of them soldiers & policemen who die for the country. There is hardly any mention of them anywhere.

I feel that the coverage given to this whole affair was not justified & I feel the Indian media should grow up & focus on more important issues & use the power that they have to create a general public awakening similar to what the freedom fighters to gain independance from British Rule.

On our Independance day, let's wish that the media will realise their real duty & not go after juicy & steamy stories which don't have any relevance for the common man.