Hang bride burners: Supreme Court

NEW DELHI - Unless all those who burn their wives are hanged, the barbaric crime would not stop, the Supreme Court has said.

“This (bride burning) is barbaric and wild animal like behaviour and only when the perpetrators of such a crime are sent to the gallows the people will realise that bride burning is a crime,” said that apex court bench of Justice Markandey Katju and Justice T.S. Thakur said.

The court said this while dismissing Monday a petition by one Milap Kumar challenging his conviction and award of life imprisonment by the trial court in Ferozepur district of Punjab.

Justice Katju said that “many of my brother judges were ahinsavadi (supporters of non-violence) but I am not”. I believe that the perpetrators of such a heinous crime should be handed down an exemplary punishment, Justice Katju said.

In the instant case, Milap Kumar burnt Raj Bala for refusing to join him in work in the agriculture field. The incident took place May 10, 1995 in Fazilka city.

The prosecution said that Milap Kumar burnt his wife after pouring kerosene oil on her and bolted the door from outside.

Raj Bala, a mother of two, received 80 percent burn injuries. She died May 14, 1995.

Milap Kumar was awarded life imprisonment Nov 9, 1999 by the trial court. His plea challenging the verdict was dismissed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court Jan 6,