Amnesty urges Prez Kalam to commute death sentence of UP youth

New Delhi, Sep 9 (UNI) The Amnesty International has urged President A P J Abdul Kalam to commute the death sentence awarded to a youth from an Uttar Pradesh village, by a trial court in the state, for raping and murdering a four-year-old girl.

Sanjay, hailing from Jalol village of Uttar Pradesh, was sentenced to death on September 21, 2004 by a trial court in Bulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh for raping and murdering a four-year-old girl Babita.

Sanjay, who is lodged in Agra Jail, is due to be hanged on September 11.

''While we sympathise with Babita's family and do not wish to downplay the seriousness of the crime or the suffering caused, we oppose the death penalty since it is a violation of the right to life and the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Moreover the death penalty has never been shown to be a more effective deterrent than other punishments,''the Amnesty International said in its letter to Dr Kalam.

''We urge you to take appropriate steps to commute the death sentence imposed upon Sanjay and uphold the values of Right to life. Alternatively we call upon you to to stay the imminent execution pending a full and complete review of this mercy petition by your office,''the Amnesty said.

Sanjay was attending a marriage ceremony with Babita and her aunt Raj Kumari in February 2004, when he informed Babita's aunt that he would take Babita back to her home in Jalol. Babita failed to arrive home and when questioned by her family, Sanjay reportedly confessed to having raped and murdered her.

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