Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Hostile indeed?

This refers to the report "Mumbai Police will kill me, Zahira tells court" (March 17). There was widespread support for Zahira Sheikh when the Supreme Court sentenced her to imprisonment for contempt of court. Many of her supporters, including me, claimed that she could not have acted better under the circumstances. But now her demand that she be handed over to the Gujarat Police raises many questions about her integrity. It appears that she is really hostile.

B. Harish,
Mangalore

* * *

The sentencing of Zahira to one-year imprisonment is a major turning point in our criminal justice system. More than the legal ramifications, the growing trend of witnesses turning hostile has serious moral and social implications. Witnesses need to realise their duty towards victims' families for whom the tragedy is often compounded by the slow pace of justice.

However, much more needs to be done to shield the witnesses from potential threats and danger to life. Furthermore, the reasons behind witnesses turning hostile need to be investigated.

Md. Ziyaullah Khan,
Nagpur

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