The killing of a missionary

It was Jan 22, 1999 when an Australian missionary Mr Graham Staines was burnt alive along with his two minor sons aged 6 and 10 years then, when they were sleeping in a van outside a church in an Indian village. After almost twelve years the Hon’ble Supreme Court in its verdict says

• In a country like ours where discrimination on the ground of caste or religion is taboo (A strong social prohibition relating to any area of human activity orsocial custom that is sacred and forbidden based on moral judgment and sometimes even religious beliefs) and taking lives of persons belonging to another caste or religion is bound to have a dangerous and reactive effect on society.
• Further the intention was to teach Mr Graham Staines a lesson for his religious activities.
• In a secular country the state can’t have its own religion but treat all religions and religious groups equally and respect fully.
• On the contrary there is no justification for interfering in some ones belief by force, provocation, conversion, incitement or upon a flawed premise that one religion is better than the other

But the Hon’ble Supreme Court further says that the crime was not rarest of the rare so no death sentence.

In the course of time, two more statements:

• Every person should be given another chance to rebuild his/her life………………There is need for the killers to repent (to feel sorry, self-reproachful, or contrite for past conduct; regret or be conscience-stricken about a past action and attitude) …..says Mrs Gladys Staines (Wife of Mrs Graham Staines)
• As far the Christian community is concerned, we have already forgiven him (Dara Singh, the killer)…….. We accept the SC verdict. … says Raphael Cheenath (Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar archbishop)

Who wins???