Case of XN – XX

We all like cryptic motifs. In fact cryptic motifs which are tantalizingly near unraveling yet not quite obvious keep us glued to the subject as most likely in this case you would want to decipher what XN - XX stand for. X as you all know represents unknown thing or person and N represents an unknown integer (n would represent a rational number) XX of course in DNA language is a female of the Homo Sapiens species.

Now I am stuck in an intractable dilemma that refuses to resolve. And it pertains to fallibility of humans and philosophy of redemption. We punish people for their crime, not deliver justice to the victim. In recent upheaval surrounding the gang rape of Delhi girl we hear cacophonous chorus rising from the multitude ‘only death penalty to the perpetrators of this ghastly crime can be adequate justice to the victim’ which is erroneous reading of modern jurisprudence. At the crux of modern justice system lies right of an individual to mend his ways and rejoin the society. This however is not entirely true, in rarest cases deterrent also is considered part of modern justice system. Now dilemma arises in a case of a zombie like individual who is smitten by an ordinary law abiding innocuous girl leading her inane life oblivious to the world at large. Suddenly her world is shattered by this individual hell bent of starting a relationship with her in which she has no interest. The man is snubbed and dismissed on several occasion but he persists with obnoxious stubbornness. Eventually he is humiliated in an effort to dissuade him from anymore advances. The man is now a possessed individual; threatens to throw acid on girl’s face to defile her forever to avenge his humiliation. The dilemma unfolds now. The girl did not start this episode, she had nothing to do with that individual and yet she now leads a life of prisoner in mortal fear of this man. This girl represents XN -XX: the unknown prisoner (Prisoners are identified by a number)

The question is, can we incarcerate this individual merely on speculation but a morbidly real one that he will carry out his threat and let him to go about his business until he commits crime? If we allow that then we make the girl a prisoner of mortal fear not at all of her own making.