Bilkis Bano

TERRIBLE crimes against humanity, such as bonded labour, lynching, and trafficking of women and children, happen across India on a daily basis (“Justice for Bilkis”, September 23). The perpetrators of such crimes should be given punishment that is appropriate for the intensity and gravity of the crime. Crimes against children and women, kidnapping, rape, and gang-rape are as bad as murder and should be treated as such.

The perpetrators should be punished accordingly; they should be jailed for life. The term life sentence is ambiguous and

could mean 14, 20, or 25 years. A life sentence of 14 years should be awarded for less grievous crimes, and a life sentence until natural death should be awarded for serious crimes. In other countries, 100-year sentences are awarded, which means that convicts will be in jail for the rest of their life, but this is not the norm in India.

The 11 accused in the Bilkis Bano case not only gang-raped her but are also guilty of killing seven members of her family, including her three-yearold daughter. With the Central government having issued guidelines in June 2022 to deny remission to those given death sentences or life imprisonment in cases of rape, terror, dowry death, and money laundering, the release of these 11 men is incomprehensible.

There was a stark difference in people’s response to the Nirbhaya case and to that of Bilkis Bano.

The justice system machinery is not functioning well when it comes to rape and gang rape cases; it has become insensitive and is denying or burying justice.

M.Y. SHARIFF CHENNAI