‘We are against release of Nirbhaya's rapist': Students from Bengaluru sign in solidarity

If a minor had the ability to commit such a heinous crime, then I fail to see him as a person who can be reformed
‘We are against release of Nirbhaya's rapist': Students from Bengaluru sign in solidarity
‘We are against release of Nirbhaya's rapist': Students from Bengaluru sign in solidarity

The Delhi high court’s decision to free the juvenile rape accused in the Nirbhaya or Jyoti Singh's gang rape case has caused a huge outcry and many institutions are coming together with petitions demanding that the accused who is now 21 years old should be detained further.

The juvenile accused was six months from his 18th birthday when the rape happened on December 16, 2012.

“On what parameters is the court saying that the juvenile rape accused in Nirbhaya rape case has been reformed after being lodged in the correction home for three years?,” asks Shifa Kouser, a student of Mount Carmel College, where a signature campaign against the release of the juvenile accused initiated by National Students Union of India(NSUI) took place on Monday.

According to Shifa, though there weren’t many students in college as they have left for home for Christmas, girls from both pre-university and degree college who were in the college on Monday took part in the campaign.

NSUI’s campaign was a pan India one and in Karnataka was conducted in Bengaluru, Haveri, Dharwad, Raichur and Mysuru district.

Aamer Javed, NSUI Karnataka state in-charge told The News Minute that the HC’s decision is sending a wrong message to people.  “So today if he is going to walk out free, there are chances that other criminals are going to take advantage of this flexibility of law.”

The aim of the campaign was to send a message across to the parliament that the youth of the country are against the release of the accused.

Christ University students taking part in the campaign Picture Credit: Jayander Shahi Rajput

Signature campaign outside Mount Carmel College 

“When you are talking about women safety, women empowerment and all such things, then how can you let a person who should and would be shunned by the society is walking out free on the streets? What example are we setting to the whole world?” asked Carl Mathew, a student of Christ University.

Picture credit: Jayander Shahi Rajput

Javed asserted that mentality of a man will not change. If the accused claimed to be ‘reformed’ then it probably means he went for a few counselling sessions where he was told about what is good and what is bad, but how does one really know that it is enough to change his character?

“If a minor had the ability to commit such a heinous crime, then I fail to see him as a normal person. When there are so many people against his release, there should be an amendment in the law keeping in mind the public sentiment at large,” said Shifa.

There have been many people who are ready to take law in their hands and have threatened to castrate the juvenile accused if they recognised him anywhere.

“That is why the accused opted to be with an NGO. But I am sure there are many people who are enraged by this and would not hesitate to go to such an extent if they identified this person. It would result in something very ugly,” Javed said.

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