Dhananjay's neighbours give 'hang' verdict

KOLKATA: Mansi Bakharia was a toddler when she saw Hetal Parekh''s body. All she remembers of that day, 14 years ago, was that it sent shivers down her spine. The body and the injuries had numbed her.
On Monday, Mansi along with her parents (they still stay in Anand Apartments where Hetal lived), came down to attend a small gathering - one which had celebrities debating whether Dhananjoy should be hanged - but sat quietly watching others speak.
The little girl is a teenager now. But she vividly remembers what was its fallout. "My parents never left me alone at home after that. Even if they did, they made sure the door was locked from inside," she recollected.
Along with her mother Mira, she too feels strongly that Dhananjoy should be hanged. Her father R.S. Bakhari said that the murder was guided by revenge.
"Hetal''s father (Nagardas Parekh) was the building association secretary. He wanted Dhananjay removed for misbehaving with his daughter. He was to be sacked," he said.
On Monday, their views were mirrored by all those who spoke at the Padmapukur Road meeting. Author Nimai Bhattacharya, actors Madhabi Chattopadhay, Biplab Chatterjee and Rupa Ganguly put their views in favour of Dhananjay''s execution. Some could not stop themselves from taking a dig at "those intellectuals who are against it".
While Madhabi curtly said she wanted Dhananjoy hanged till death, the only author in the select gathering offered an interesting anecdote. He said while researching for a novel he had visited the jails several times.
"I personally felt that the rapists were abhorred not just by jail officials but also other prisoners. So why is a person still alive for a crime which is looked down upon even by criminals?" he asked.
Biplab Chatterjee too felt the same. He failed to understand why Dhananjay was still alive. Rupa Ganguly said that none should sympathise with Dhananjay.
Agragami Mahila Samiti has issued a statement in favour of the hanging.
Samiti general secretary Aparajita Gopi said the President should reject the mercy plea. "Else people might think it''s easy to get a reprieve even after committing the worst of crimes," Gopi said.