Hyderabad: “I waited 11 years, waiting for the evil minded convicts to pay the price of maiming me for life, another 10 years is just horrifying to think,” says Syed Raheem, a victim.
“They can continue with their lives despite a judgment. Yes, they are in jail, but they remain in power while they use the law to navigate and postpone punishment. I partly lost my vision but there are others who lost their children and spouses. It took one evening to take away life from their bodies, but for them to face the same fate, it will take years. It is truly heartbreaking”, said the victim.
As the trauma continues, Ms. Sheetal Jose, psychologist said, “From the start of any life-altering event that causes trauma, a victim remains in the state of trauma, sometimes for their entire life. With progression of time, the level of trauma can reduce, but most often it is the closure that finally dissipates trauma as the human mind is more open to healing once it is able to come to a final conclusion of the event itself.”
Another victim, Ms. Chandra Naik, acknowledges the judicial process, but questions what is being done for those who are bearing the yoke of suffering, waiting for the hammer of justice. The victim said,, “I lost the vision from my right eye when I was just nineteen-years-old. Eleven years I have struggled, and now finally a verdict has come but instead of immediately implementing the verdict, another 10 more years will be wasted in trials in higher courts. Government officials come to the media and back the death penalty but nothing is said about the victims, their losses and their sufferings, not even compensation is being provided,” he said.
