II

Rape is defined in Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code and commensurate punishments have been laid down in Sections 376 to 376-D. Gang-rape has been defined in Explanation-1 below Section 376 of the IPC but no separate punishment has been laid down. It will be appropriate if gang-rape is properly defined as a separate Section 375-A. The offence of gang-rape should be included in Sections 299 and 300 of the Indian Penal Code. And whether the culpable homicide of gang-rape results in physical murder of the victim or not, it should be considered as murder of piousness of the victim and thus death penalty under Section 302 of the IPC should be laid down.

ONKAR SINGH RIAR, Jalandhar

III

Demonstration of power to the weak is human nature. Only the weak try and control others, the strong exercise self-control. The way we bring up a male child in our society needs change. When your father does not treat your mother right, when a brother does not treat his sister right or when a boyfriend does not treat his girlfriend right, speak up.

S C DHALL, Zirakpur 

IV

The Delhi gang-rape victim has become a symbol of the movement against atrocities committed on women and the apathetic attitude of the authorities. The 13-day struggle of the young woman against all odds is a source of inspiration to citizens to secure justice for the nation’s daughters and not let any other girl or woman meet the same fate. True justice will be done when the needed administrative and legislative changes are made, society’s male-biased psyche is changed and women feel truly liberalised.

KETAN BANSAL, Barnala

V

We have fallen prey to poor governance in the country. We are being governed by an old set of rules and laws which are irrelevant in the present times, keeping in mind the severity of the crimes being committed.

From academic selection to transfers to promotion of government employees, money and contacts in the corridors of power play a vital role. The force of merit was lost long ago in our country. Today from a peon to a top-rank government employee, everybody is supreme, accountable and answerable to none.

Government resources are meant to be shared by a few. How can we expect miracles from an administrative set-up which has crumbled beyond repair?

Dr RAJEEV GUPTA, Ludhiana

VI

The government apathy towards the plight of rape victims becomes clearer in the news report “Anti-rape law awaits House debate”, December 25). The government and the Opposition can only play with words during the parliamentary debate with zero result. Then why the debate? Rape is a crime which shatters the soul of the victim. Punishment to the criminals in such cases should be given as soon as the crime is established in the medical report.

UPENDRA BHATNAGAR, Chandigarh

VII

We must acknowledge the fact that there is no dearth of policies but that they are not being implemented is the key issue. It is not that there are no laws to punish rapists, even if the existing laws would have been implemented efficiently, the ghastly Delhi incident would not have taken place in the first place. It is time to lay stress on the Executive’s role rather than the Legislature’s.

AKSHAY MANTA, Kullu

Fanciful thought

The dossier containing clinching evidence against LeT chief Hafeez Saeed given to Pakistan was dubbed as a “piece of literature” by the then Pakistan Foreign Secretary (now High Commissioner in India) Salman Bashir. The Pakistan government neither has the intention nor the guts to bring him to justice. He is regarded as an honourable religious leader in Pakistan.

The ISI shares information with the Lashkar-e-Tayyibah and the Pakistan Army considers it as an asset. None in Pakistan had dared to respond to the US $10 million bounty for information leading to his arrest and conviction. He is fearlessly holding public rallies and brazenly spewing venom against India. Any hope that Pakistan government will take action against him is like a night-time fancy that disappears in the morning. Alas “Ham ko un sey vafa kee hai ummeed/ jo nahin jaantey vafa kya hai”.

BHAGWAN SINGH, Qadian, Gurdaspur