Life seems to be imitating cinema way too much these days. The strange twist in the Ryan school murder case in Gurugram shows how easy it is for the police to make a poor man the culprit. Moreover, the developments in the case are a heartbreaking reminder of the class and caste bias in our justice system.
Weaker sections of society are the first targets and repeatedly blamed for appalling crimes. In many cases, they are put behind bars for years without trial. Oblivious to their legal rights, they become easy targets and bend under pressure from the higher authorities because they are vulnerable (Editorial – “Under pressure”, November 10).
Geethu Issac,
Navi Mumbai
The murder and the subsequent investigation of the crime have turned out to a case of sheer fabrication and fixing. The State police hurriedly concocted the evidence. Now, after a spell of nearly 60 days, the CBI makes another sensational claim. This kind of a hurried and flawed investigation which, most of the time, comes under the influence of various forces, seems to be common across India. Who will compensate for the mental agony and torture inflicted on the person who had been framed? What is even more appalling is the trivialisation of the issue by the police.
Ravi Mannethu,
Pullad, Kerala
Without raising any question about the credibility of the CBI, one fails to digest the latest theory put forth by the elite investigating agency.
It is impossible to believe that a senior student of the school would go to the extent of murdering a young school mate within the premises just to postpone a PTA meeting and an examination.
One hopes that the case does not go the same way as the Aarushi Talwar case which still remains an unsolved murder. The very first basic principle is to investigate every possible angle and theory and shun hearsay.
Hemant Kumar,
Ambala City, Haryana
The law machinery should not be content that it has found the “target”. It is high time that our ever-vigilant judiciary should view the whole episode more comprehensively and try and analyse the environs schollchildren are being raised in. Parental upbringing and general societal standards and norms have to be seriously looked into and remedied to avoid such occurrences.
K.V.L.N. Sharma,
Secunderabad
Children learn about tolerance and decency only by watching elders practising kindness and caring for others. We need to assure them that they have a long way to go towards getting encomiums, awards and attaining excellence if they follow a moral path. Proper counselling at all stages is a must if we are to ensure that the young are to become good citizens. Leaders must take steps to introduce moral instruction classes in schools and ways to encourage talent.
A.J. Rangarajan,
Chennai
Cases like this murder or any crime that is related to a juvenile raises the question about who is responsible. Manifestation of such behaviour is not only the fault of the juvenile but also the family, society and institutions that shape and mould him. In such cases too, ‘prevention is better than cure’ and it is vital to introduce reforms. Our society needs social reforms. The increasing pressures and tensions affecting every sphere of a child’s life should be eased so that he or she has a better future and in turn helps create a better society.
Veena Singh,
New Delhi
The many lacunae behind the investigation processes have come to the fore. But what is disheartening is that a teenager is said to have committed the crime. This makes one ponder about the mindset of teenagers and how gullible they are. Be it ending their life going by the suicides in the ‘Blue whale challenge’ or this murder, the common factor is the high degree of validation sought by these teenagers from their peers and fellow-beings. Apparently the teenager is said to have claimed that the exams would be postponed. To emerge as a winner or a hero among the peer group, gullible and naive minds think of extreme measures. With the growing popularity of social media, this ‘validation-seeking’ from other people has only increased. What is required is the right kind of parenting and attention to be given to children who cannot handle the dark world.
Nayanshree
Ranchi, Jharkhand
