Strange voices are heard by those sentenced to death, National Law University Delhi reports

Posted on 22nd Oct 2021 by rohit kumar

Of those sentenced to death, 62 percent suffer from some form of mental illness and nearly half of them contemplate suicide in prison. They hear strange sounds, Devi is also seen, they even attempt suicide. This claim has been made by the National Law University Delhi in a study of nearly five years on 88 convicts convicted in the country. There are also three women among them.

 

 

The study was conducted in a criminal justice program called Project 39A. Releasing its report, in a panel discussion held on Wednesday, Chief Justice of Orissa High Court S Muralidhar said that there is a need to look at all the dimensions related to the death penalty and its impact on society. Maitreyi Mishra, who is leading the study, said international law does not allow the execution of the death penalty for mentally ill patients. However, in India, the matter of mental illness of 9 such criminals was never told to the courts.

 

 

Study results

62.2 percent: The perpetrators are battling mental illness

75% decreased ability to think

50 percent reported that they contemplate suicide in prison.

11percenthave lost their intellectual abilities

35.3% suffer from a severe mental problems, 22.6% suffer from mental restlessness

Psychosis in 6.8 percent

 

What happened to the convicts who got the death penalty?

Over five years, 19 of these 88 convicts were released, although 13 of them continued to have mental problems. Three even attempted suicide. At the same time, the sentence of 33 was changed to life imprisonment. Of the 34 who were suspected of committing suicide in the study, 20 had their death sentences commuted.

 

The family of these prisoners also suffers a tragedy

The report described those sentenced to death as "living dead". The family members also go through severe mental anguish and tragedy during their stay in jail. They did not know what would happen to the perpetrator, would survive or be killed. Every day this question haunts him. To avoid social stigma, he does not even share this question with anyone.

 

Childhood, poverty, and family environment got worse

Out of these 88 convicts sentenced to death, 46 spent their childhood in physical and verbal abuse. 64 lived a neglectful life, 73 had a turbulent family environment. 56 suffered more than three cases of natural calamity, accident, and physical violence.

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