Life imprisonment is more punishing than death penalty: Kiran Bedi

Panaji, Feb 16 (UNI) Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) Director General Kiran Bedi today said undergoing life imprisonment is more punishing and excruciating for a criminal than suffering death penalty.

The Ramon Magsaysay award winner and former administrator of the Tihar Jail said this while responding to queries by students of the Goa Institute of Management at Ribandar here as part of the lecture on ''Journey from Tihar to UN''. She formed her opinion after witnessing the excruciating experiences of the lifers at the Tihar Jail, she added.

''Life term is more punishing than the award of death by hanging, which rids the criminal of the tough life once and for all at one go,'' she said.

Ms Bedi said law had not done away with the provisions of the capital punishment as the victims of crime may demand ''eye for an eye and teeth for teeth'' which, she felt, was an uncivilised way of life.

Responding to another question, the senior police officer who had just returned as the Police Advisor in the UN's Peacekeeping Department, said the educated elite should not give up the responsibility of exposing the ''ills'' plaguing the police, irrespective of problems associated with the task.

''At the same time, the citizens should take the lead first in saving the life of a person lying on road in an accident instead of blaming the police for its failures and lapses fearing some problems in future from the cops,'' Ms Bedi said.

She said herculean efforts are underway to correct the police, but the educated citizens, instead of blaming the police, should try to correct the system.

''After all, you are all Masters of Business Administration (MBA) and we are Masters of Business Experience. Try to internalise the training skills you have learnt in this knowledge centre to become a leader in your career and life,'' she said.

UNI