12 April 2004 :

The People's Legal Forum (PLF) was to stage a demonstration in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office in India seeking the abolition of death penalty in the country. The demonstration was being held in the wake of the Supreme Court condemning to death four associates of the forest brigand, Veerappan. The apex court had awarded the death penalty to "Bomb" Simon, Bilavendra, Meesakara Madaiah and Gnanaprakasham for their alleged involvement in the Palar bomb blast. A press release by the PLF said that the death penalty was cruel, inhuman and degrading, and violated the most fundamental of human rights, the right to life. According to Babu Raj, Secretary of the People's Legal Forum, the goal of the criminal justice system in a civilised society was the reformation of a criminal. The greatest characterising trait of human beings was their ability to change and adapt, using their understanding and processing faculties.