In India, a man has been given the death sentence for setting his wife on fire following repeated humiliation based on her skin tone. The individual, identified as Kishandas, habitually mocked his partner, Lakshmi, for her dark complexion, as per statements preceding her demise. District Judge Rahul Choudhary imposed the capital punishment, labeling the gruesome act as an extremely rare occurrence and deeming it a violation against humanity.
Residing in the village of Navaniya, the man carried out the heinous act in Udaipur on June 24, 2017. Despite his legal team’s claims of innocence, they plan to challenge the verdict following the widespread coverage of the case in a society deeply embedded with color bias.
Lakshmi had previously reported her spouse referring to her as “kali,” meaning dark-skinned, and subjecting her to body shaming. The couple tied the knot in 2016. On the fatal night eight years ago, Kishandas purportedly brought a bottle of brown liquid, claiming it to be a skin-lightening medicine, and proceeded to ignite her with an incense stick, pouring the remaining substance on her as she caught fire, according to testimonies.
Following the despicable act, Judge Choudhary expressed, “This heart-wrenching brutality was not only against Lakshmi but a crime against all humanity. It is an atrocity that appalls the conscience and is unimaginable in a civilized society.”
The verdict has been forwarded to the high court for finalization of the death penalty. The accused has a 30-day window to appeal. Public prosecutor Dinesh Paliwal hailed the decision as pivotal and hopes it serves as a deterrent to others.
Reflecting on the tragic loss, Paliwal stated, “A young woman in her early 20s was brutally murdered – a sister, a daughter, beloved by many. If we do not protect our daughters, who will?”
Kishandas’s legal representative, Surendra Kumar Menariya, contended that the incident was accidental and lacked substantial evidence against his client, whom he believes was falsely accused.
Colorism, favoring lighter skin within the same ethnic group, is a prevalent form of discrimination. India’s struggle with violence against women continues to grow, with recent data indicating that a significant portion of women in the country are at risk of intimate partner violence.
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