Mistakes require corrections and so is the jail place for self-introspection and correction. But when a crime or a criminal is celebrated it stands out as another cause to instigate the committed crime. India currently is gazed by the world for its level of poverty. At the same time rape is another major threat in the country acting against the welfare of the nation. The story of a self-declared God man Baba Ram Raheem is a forgotten black mark in the dark pasts of rape histories in the country.
“Ram Rahim built a cave-themed palatial underground home in the dera where he would meditate and sexually exploit women. Based on the concept of harem in palaces, he would choose girls from among the devotees, and make them surrender their bodies before him these women would later remain in the dera and wait for being married off to male devotees who followed his orders as slaves or devotees do. These women were guarded by men allegedly neutered or castrated by the dera. This was not a secret. His private quarters were always guarded by his trusted gang of girls.
The rape, by the way, was called an act of pardon (maafi to be precise). Some women, as was later revealed, believed it was a blessing. But not all. The two women who testified against him had similar stories. The primary complainant, whose anonymous letter to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, became the basis of an FIR by CBI in 2002, told the CBI court that she was called by Pitaji (that’s what they call him) into his gufa (cave) in the intervening night of August 28 and 29, 1999 for granting maafi (pardon). He threatened to kill her if she did not give in. The rape made her realise the reality of the dera. She complained to her brother, who revolted and escaped with her. He was later murdered”…
-India today
Out of 20 years of imprisonment imposed Baba Ram Rahim is out on parole for 40 days. And in the religious conference held by him during his period of release is attended by the people’s representatives in our country.
On the other hand recently the release of another heinous crime of Bilkis Bano rape and murder case and their welcoming with garland and sweet questioned the moral ethics of the country men. Is India indirectly supporting rape and atrocities against women has been a current question. The release of criminals even before the pain of a victim and their family is wiped off, a grand welcome of the criminal and the presence of leaders of the country in the preaching of criminals are not good sign for a country that worships women.
At times of indirect encouragement and instigation being given to criminals, it is a hard time for the judiciary of the country and the states to inculcate change in the system and focus on the release of under-trial prisoners, who are more than three fourth of jail inmates. Instead of a paroled release of a criminal or the offenders even before the completion of a punishment term, the release of souls who have their precious time spent in jail just as an accused is a better step towards fair judgement.
