HRW asks India to abolish death penalty

A leading human rights organisation on Thursday renewed its call for India to abolish death penalty after it executed 1993 Mumbai blast convict Yakub Memon, saying there is no evidence that the “cruel” form of punishment acts as a deterrent.

Human Rights Watch said that India should adopt the message of Mahatma Gandhi that an “eye for an eye will make the whole world blind” as the practice of death penalty is “blinding the Indian Justice.” 

“So, why does India cling to capital punishment? Perhaps the government is afraid to be seen as soft in the face of horrific terrorist attacks or other crimes like the 2013 <g data-gr-id="15">gang rape</g> of a student in New Delhi. 

But the often professed goals for capital punishment? deterrence, reformation, or justice? hardly hold up to scrutiny,” said Jayshree Bajoria, <g data-gr-id="16">researcher</g> in the Asia Division. She said there is no conclusive evidence from India to show that the death penalty acts as a deterrent.