Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Of what use?

Sir, — The CBI court has given a deserving verdict in the Graham Staines case, sentencing the main accused, Dara Singh, to death. But will punishments such as the death penalty help reduce crime in society if we do not work to eradicate the cause? Punishment is of no use if we are not able to educate our people.

Vikrant Singh,
New Delhi

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Sir, — It was encouraging to see that unlike in Gujarat, the justice system was fair in the Staines murder case. Capital punishment is an unchristian act and it is an irony that the killer of the Christian missionary faces the death penalty.

George Paul,
Salem, T.N.

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Sir, — When the Central Government plans to abolish cow slaughter and Tamil Nadu has banned animal sacrifice in temples, why are Governments hesitant in abolishing the death penalty?

V.P. Jose,
Chennai

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Sir, — Awarding death sentence to an animal hustler, a British judge once said that it was not for stealing sheep but to prevent others from stealing sheep. The award of the death penalty to Dara Singh is also to prevent killings in the name of religion.

M. Somasekhar Prasad,
Badvel, A.P.

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• Body bags
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• The other view
• Of what use?
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