Click to play videoNew Delhi: In a landmark judgement, the Delhi High Court has ordered death sentence for Santosh Kumar Singh – the man who raped and killed 23-year-old law student Priyadarshini Mattoo in 1996.
It took ten years of trial by the judiciary under the watchful eye of the media before justice prevailed. The High Court judgement has finally ended a long wait for Mattoo’s father Chaman Lal Mattoo.
“I have lost my daughter, I am not going to get her back but other people will think before attacking the dignity of women in our country,” Chaman Lal Mattoo says.
The judgement has bucked up a number of others prosecuting murder charges. For instance in the Jessica Lall case or even the Nitish Katara case.
For those who have been spearheading the 'Justice for Mattoo' campaign, both on the streets and on the Internet, it's a moment of victory.
'Justice for Mattoo' campaign member Aditya Raj Kaul says, “Frankly we weren't expecting a death sentence it's really a moment of elation for us.”
And the celebration of justice delayed but delivered is echoed by the families of other victims who are still fighting for justice.
Jessica Lall's sister Sabrina Lall says, “The death penalty was a surprise but I hope that it will act as a deterrent for people who think that they can kill and then move around freely.”
Echoing the same sentiment Nitish Katara's mother Neelam Katara says, “It took really long for Priyadarshini's family to get justice and it was really painful for them. I hope that it won’t take so long to deliver justice in other cases.”
While some may consider death penalty too severe punishment, the judgement has definitely given a ray of hope to others who are still seeking justice.
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