Tripura Assembly has passed a resolution to request the Union Government to amend Section 302 of the IPC to abolish capital punishment. The resolution is apparently fallout of recent hanging of Yakub Memon, prime accused in Mumbai serial blasts.
Congress MLA Jitendra Sarkar moved a motion in the assembly in its opening day on Friday against death penalty and asked to replace it with life sentence unto death. Speaker opened the motion for a brief discussion before adoption of a resolution.
Chief Minister Manik Sarkar rose to strongly oppose capital punishment terming it a murder of somebody for committing a murder. Leader of opposition Sudip Roy Burman quoted Mahatma Gandhi to raise his objection to death sentence.
Exception was Ratan Lal Nath of Congress who spoke on a different tone to favour continuation of capital punishment to deal with terrorists and heinous crimes. “Mumbai blasts victims had also right to live,” he argued.
Mr Nath however did not oppose when Speaker put the motion to vote to seek assent of the members. Speaker declared that the motion was passed unanimously.
The adopted resolution would be sent to union government and the Law Commission for consideration. It requested for necessary amendment in IPC Section 302 for commuting death sentence.
