CRIME & PUNISHMENT

While an investigation has been launched into the situation in Ukraine, the International Criminal Court must receive full support to give the world a robust and effective international criminal justice system

- Justice Kamaljit Singh Garewal

A bomb thrown in a crowded market or at a bus or an apartment block or a suicide bomber blowing himself up leaves behind a huge toll of human lives, suffering, and devastation of property. Families are shattered, many men, women, and children die. Media reports give all the gory details but the viewers will never know how the victims felt, whose loved ones were blown up or how the survivors limped back to continue their lives with a broken leg or an amputated arm. In a few days, the debris of the bombing will get cleared but the mental devastation and psychological fear in the minds and hearts of the victims shall remain, and they will need solace, healing and comforting. One way is, of course, to catch the people who conspired to throw the bomb and destroy innocent lives, charge, try and punish them. Such acts of terrorism must be strongly dealt with, through the process of law, and all this done quickly and impartially.

In the international arena, acts of invading armies cause huge destruction of buildings, bridges, roads and railways. In addition, invading soldiers loot, plunder, murder and rape the vanquished. Such has always been the reality of wars from time immemorial.