The boon of death
Temples, places of worship and the beliefs around it are created by man for the sanctity of his life. Many believers live on the faith that a God that protects then exists somewhere in some form. Faith in God helps millions of people get through their lives. But when this trust turns into a business, an enterprise of competition do we understand what a threat it can be for people. Owing to faith, the world is suffering on one hand and, is falling prey to superstitions on another. Though we have churches, temples and masjids dotting every area, people are growing highly intolerant of each other. Devotion is not euphoria. When it becomes something like a drug, a man's downfall begins from right there.
Sometimes, the very faith that guards him turns into a death trap. Indian politics stands in such euphoric religious beliefs. They have led us to Gujarat and Sikh massacres. Tragedies that have occurred on religious occasions aren't any different from these ones either. The incident of crackers having claimed lives of many people in Kerala is still fresh in people's minds. Just a few months ago, people who were watching Ramleela event on railway tracks met a tragic end with a train running over them. Our acceptance of stampedes at village events and fairs are considered nearly normal. Karnataka is now witnessing one man made tragedy that could have been totally avoided.
The number of deaths that are occurring owing to consumption of poison mixed prasada in Sulvadi Maramma temple of Hanur in Chamarajanagar taluk are increasing by the day. Religious institutions organise events not only in the basis of belief, but as a business proposition as well. They add a lot of money to the treasury of the temple under the pretext of such events. This being the case, should any mishaps or tragedies occur in the course of events, the organisers or temple authorities would be held responsible for everything.
It is the responsibility of the organisers to ensure all precautionary measures are in place to avoid any untoward incidents when lakhs of people are assembling for an auspicious event. The mindset that we only need the money donated by devotees but their safety isn't our responsibility is what leads to tragic events like these. Organisers have special responsibility to ensure the Prasada offered at religious events are prepared with great care, hygiene and responsibility, bearing in mind the massive number of devotees who'd be consuming it as part of the ceremony.
But the number of people who are falling ill after consuming the Prasada is increasing these days. With the size of the religious ceremonies getting bigger, the quantity of Prasada prepared at the site is also getting larger. At times like this, the aspect of hygiene takes a backseat. But in case of Chamarajanagar, the issue is albeit different. The tragedy is not owing to lack of hygiene, but because someone has mixed deadly poison into the Prasada that left people dead. A person who can mix poison into Prasada can never be a believer. He or she must surely be a criminal at heart and spirit. Many innocents fell dead over his design.
Hence the incident has to be probed in all aspects to catch the culprits without delay. There were all chances of avoiding the untoward incidents. It was the responsibility of organisers to test the Prasada before it was distributed or served to the people. If this was offered to some animals or birds, so many deaths could have been easily avoided. Or, the cook should have tasted the food before it was served. And they should have waited for an hour or later before it was taken to the devotees for consumption. That could have avoided a few deaths. The police cannot absolve the responsibility of organisers in this in any manner. At the same time, there could be a big conspiracy behind poison being mixed into the Prasada. Those who were waiting to get some plum posts or some position within the temple committee or a fight between two groups wanting to cater for the event could also be behind this mishap.
Hence this incident has to be probed from different angles. At the same time, there are instances where students fall ill after consuming mid day meals that also need to be probed for clarity. Many categories of people are not too happy with the mid day meals being served to poor students and the fact that students of all castes sit together to eat. So chances of that food being adulterated cannot be ruled out. Government needs to exercise extreme care with mid day meals being prepared and served. The area has to be monitored while being oraored and distributed. When we have minds that can add poison to Prasada, a mid day meal being contaminated can never be too far.
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Kerala court sentences man to life imprisonment for murder of doctor at taluk hospital
Kollam (Kerala) (PTI): A teacher convicted in the sensational murder of Dr Vandana Das inside a hospital here was sentenced to life term on Saturday, and the prosecution said it will move an appeal seeking death penalty for the accused. The victim's family also batted for "maximum punishment".
Dr Das was brutally killed inside a taluk hospital in May 2023 by G Sandeep.
The Kollam Additional District and Sessions Court sentenced Sandeep to a total of 30 years for various offences under the then Indian Penal Code (IPC) and said that after he serves that period, his life imprisonment for Das' murder will commence, SPP Prathap G Padickal told reporters.
The detailed judgement is awaited.
The special public prosecutor said that he will recommend to the prosecution to file an appeal seeking enhancement of the life imprisonment to death penalty.
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He said that the prosecution had sought the maximum punishment for Sandeep, "but the court probably felt it was not a rarest-of-rare case" and that is why death penalty was not given.
The victim's father said that the verdict has come as a relief for the family, but he cannot authoritatively say whether his daughter has got justice.
He indicated his dissatisfaction with the punishment, saying that steps will be taken to seek its enhancement after discussions with the public prosecutor.
Dr Das' mother said that the family can only wish for the maximum punishment and it was up to the court to decide what sentence should be given.
She said that the family will go in appeal, but declined to comment on whether her daughter got justice.
She tearfully said that she wants the convict to suffer the same pain that her daughter underwent "as he stabbed her 27 times".
The court on March 17 had convicted Sandeep for various offences under the IPC, including murder, destruction of evidence and wrongful restraint.
It had also held him guilty under the provisions of the Kerala Healthcare Service Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions (Prevention of violence and damage to property) Act 2012.
Sandeep was brought to the taluk hospital by the police for medical treatment during the small hours of May 10, 2023 and he went on a sudden attacking spree using a pair of surgical scissors kept in the room where his leg injury was being dressed.
A school teacher by profession, he had initially attacked the police officers and a private person who had accompanied him to the hospital and then turned on the young Dr Das, who could not escape to safety.
She was stabbed several times and later succumbed to her injuries in a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram where she was rushed following the attack.
Dr Das was a native of the Kaduthuruthy area of Kottayam district and the only child of her parents.
She was a house surgeon at Azeezia Medical College Hospital and was working at the Kottarakkara taluk hospital as part of her training.
Sandeep had called the emergency number 112, claiming that his life was in danger. When local police located him, he was standing close by his home, surrounded by local residents and his relatives, and had a wound on his leg following an alleged quarrel.
He was then taken to the hospital for dressing the wound.
