The gang-rape of a 23-year-old girl in Delhi on 16 December last year is indeed a blot on social behaviour of Indians. Such incidences are not new but this particular case came into public gaze in such a fury that has shaken the whole administrative setup. Such incidents have become the order of the day and occupy a permanent feature in newspapers and electronic media.
According to the National Crime Report Bureau in India a woman is raped every 22 minutes while a minor is subjected to this heinous crime every 76 minutes. The question is: why is there so much increase in this crime? There are so many reasons behind it. But (1) Immodesty, (2) Parents’ negligence in upbringing of their children, (3) Alcohol, and (4) Ineffective law in this respect appear to be the causes of such odds.
IMMODESTY
It is such a menace which leads one towards adultery, fornication, rape, molestation and other obscene acts. Both male and female are responsible for allowing such circumstances to crop up. In past they were rare. Ever since the western culture has its effects on our society, the situation has taken an ugly turn. This is the western culture which has dampened the Indian culture and smashed its social fabric.
It is modesty that keeps us from indulging in evil deeds and absurd acts. There is much emphasis in Islam on observing modesty. The Holy Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) says: “Every religion has a distinctive quality and the distinctive quality of Islam is modesty” (Muwatta). He again says: “Modesty and faith exist together and when one of them goes out, the other, too, goes out” (Baihaqi). “Modesty brings nothing but good” (Bukhari and Muslim).
PARENTS’ NEGLIGENCE
Parents should play a constructive role in the upbringing and character building of their children. It is unfortunate that scant attention is now paid by them towards character building of their children. Some parents do not feel shy in watching blue movies and nasty films along with their children. Even some parents do not check free mixing of boys and girls even after the latter reach puberty. Attention should be drawn towards the proper upbringing of their children.
ALCOHOL
Intoxication is root of all evils and crimes, particularly against women. It should be completely banned in the whole country. The Prophet of Islam says: “Wine is the mother of every kind of crime and sin.” He further says: “Every intoxicant is wine and every wine is forbidden. Those who drink wine in this world will be forbidden to touch the pure wine provided in heaven.” Due to its multi-dimensional nauseas and bad effects Islam made it forbidden for its adherents.
INEFFECTIVE LAW
It is often seen that perpetrators get away with light punishment provided under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code. It is time harsher punishment should be given to the offenders and law should be amended accordingly.
To a great extent capital punishment may play an important role in bringing down heinous crimes such as rape. Justice Bhanwar Singh, Chairman of Judicial and Training and Research Institute, U.P. has rightly stated, “Death sentence should be introduced for rapists as things have gone beyond control and if strictest measures are not taken, things may worsen.”
Citing the example of the United Kingdom, he said once petty crimes increased so much that the ruler had to make even pick pocketing punishable with death penalty. When it showed results, more 200 petty crimes were made punishable with death penalty. Things worked and crime was controlled.”
In short, the above mentioned four causes are responsible for increasing the crime graph day by day. It is high time we must wake up from slumber and ponder over the said causes and try our level best to ward off inhuman acts.