It has been reported that the neighbors in an area in Mumbai, Maharashtra today took law in their own hands and apprehended a man who was is alleged to have committed rape to a four-year-old girl at her house. The angry crowd in Maharashtra stripped the suspect off his clothes and made him take the ‘walk of shame’ until he reached a nearby police station. It is being reported that the accused in the instant matter is a 35-year-old suspect, Jawahar Vaidya. He has been employed as a payment collection agent on a daily basis in a bank in the city of Nagpur in Central Maharashtra. It is being said that he used to make often visits to the house of the girl to collect money. One day when Jawahar found the girl alone in the house on a Sunday evening, he attempts to assault her sexually. The information as being reported has been said by police officials. It was during the act that the girl’s mother arrived home and called out for the neighbours to help. However, the neighbours were an angry mob who subdued the accused and started to thrash him. After that, he was stripped naked and tied up. He was then made to parade on the streets before handing him over to the police. A criminal case pertaining to sexual assault of minor has been registered against him.
Mob Justice:
The rising emotion against incidents of rape has intensified to an extent, where even before the conclusion as to the guilt of the accused, he has to face the wrath of the society. Amidst rising complaints of rape and gangrape from across the country, in one way or another, the ‘HANG THE RAPIST’ narrative has to be countered. It is to be understood that the end result of the entire system of punishment should be focused towards reformation and not retribution. Rape is not a crime against just one body but rather a crime against society, and it has to be in line with the reformative principles of India’s criminal justice system. Somewhere the reform sentiments are being subdued, and the popular narrative of ‘An eye for an eye’ is being taken ahead. There is ample research to suggest that the deterrent model of punishment has not helped to bring down the number of such incidents perpetrated in society.
Amidst the rising hatred for ‘rapists’, the context is getting lost. We forget to address the root cause of where it all begins. It has to be seen as a vicious cycle, being fed into by patriarchy, gender-power dynamics, illiteracy, unemployment, hostile living conditions, lack of opportunity etc. The popular demand for hanging the rapist is not only destroying the lives of millions but also against the intrinsic principles of criminal justice. Efforts focused on reformation, sensitization and awareness is the only possible solution to this widespread problem in the country. The laws are as strict as they could have been, the system needs to re-start, review and act on the situation with a humanitarian perspective.