The hangman's last wish
A one para report on the last page of today's paper reported the death of Mammu 'Jallad' Singh. A third generation hangman from Meerut, whose grandfather had executed Bhagat Singh, had wished to come out of retirement to hang Ajmal Kasab.Of course this is a task that any self-respecting Indian will not hesitate to undertake.Except...
Except of course the guiding principles of our constitution that ensure a fair trail even for murderers caught on CCTV camera, identified by witnesses,doctors and policemen.So ever since the horrid mumbai attacks of 26/11, the tax payers money is paying for Kasab's bed, biriyani, the 11000 page chargesheet,it's subsequent translation into Urdu because Kasab can neither read English or Marathi, cost of transporting the judges and public prosecutors to court,running of the court house, security expenses and what not.Perhaps the total cost expended so far could have opened a Public Health Centre in some part of remote India.
And yet Kasab waits to appeal in the Supreme Court, which incidentally is on summer vacation, so that he can appeal his sentence.Until that time he continues to be a threat to all of us.In Osama's killing and disposing his body in one swift operation, the US administration has left no scope for any hijacking or hostage drama demanding Osama's release thereby putting it's country out of imminent harm's way.No capture,no trial,no judgements and no appeal.
So Mammu Singh is dead.The executions he carried out at the orders of the state were not what he wished to do, none of them ever harmed him nor did he have personal animosity with any of them.Similar is the story with several other hangmen who have volunteered to prepare the noose for Kasab. In their hands lies justice and peace for the families of the Mumbai terror attack victims, they should stop expecting it from the government.
Except of course the guiding principles of our constitution that ensure a fair trail even for murderers caught on CCTV camera, identified by witnesses,doctors and policemen.So ever since the horrid mumbai attacks of 26/11, the tax payers money is paying for Kasab's bed, biriyani, the 11000 page chargesheet,it's subsequent translation into Urdu because Kasab can neither read English or Marathi, cost of transporting the judges and public prosecutors to court,running of the court house, security expenses and what not.Perhaps the total cost expended so far could have opened a Public Health Centre in some part of remote India.
And yet Kasab waits to appeal in the Supreme Court, which incidentally is on summer vacation, so that he can appeal his sentence.Until that time he continues to be a threat to all of us.In Osama's killing and disposing his body in one swift operation, the US administration has left no scope for any hijacking or hostage drama demanding Osama's release thereby putting it's country out of imminent harm's way.No capture,no trial,no judgements and no appeal.
So Mammu Singh is dead.The executions he carried out at the orders of the state were not what he wished to do, none of them ever harmed him nor did he have personal animosity with any of them.Similar is the story with several other hangmen who have volunteered to prepare the noose for Kasab. In their hands lies justice and peace for the families of the Mumbai terror attack victims, they should stop expecting it from the government.
May be India should start looking at outsourcing these things.. As an entrepreneur i wouldnt mind getting into the business of this.. Will keep my conscience clean and also a decent bank balance.
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