Dignity of the Dead

This is with reference to ‘Very strange, but nothing abnormal’ ( PM of 25th July ). There is such a thing as dignity of the dead. Aarushi is dead and cannot give an ‘exit interview’ about what transpired within the four walls of her home that fateful night. Living humans, even if they are reporters on the murder trial beat, have an obligation to protect the honour and dignity of the victim, who is now mute.  In the light of this, some sections of the article reek of crudity, assaulting on one’s sense of sensitivity. Under the garb of a ‘blow by blow’ account of the trial, the reader is presented with  graphic and revolting details of a part of the victim’s anatomy after the ‘dishonourable act’, with loads of speculation from the doctor thrown in for good measure. One does not dispute the veracity of the report but better discretion and sensitivity should have prevailed and the coarse details of the post mortem  expunged, without taking away the fact that circumstantial evidences seem to find the parents suspect.  Let Aarushi rest and not turn in her grave.

And click here to see how it got watered down at the editor’s table and the version that appeared in the feedback column the next day:

http://punemirror.in/article/10/20120726201207260918092369bdc3634/Milked-too-much.html

  Exercise restrain
This is with reference to ‘Very strange, but nothing abnormal’, (PM, July 25). Aarushi is dead and cannot give an exit interview about what transpired within the four walls of her home that fateful night. Therefore we, including the media, have an obligation to protect the honour and dignity of the victim. Some lines in the article were a bit disturbing.

By giving a blow by blow account of the trial, the author presented revolting details of a part of the victim’s anatomy. I do not dispute the veracity of the report but the coarse details of the post-mortem should have been expunged without taking away the fact that circumstantial evidences seems topoint to the parents.