In Pursuit of Justice...

I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.
-Abraham Lincoln

Why does it always need public outrage or media scrutiny to deliver justice to common man? What then about the millions of hapless victims, in pursuit of justice, who have been unfortunate enough to have not drawn public/media attention to their cases??? Dont they deserve justice? and more importantly how and when can they claim it???

The media of late, seems to be doing a commendable job of helping victims. But breaks my heart to see that the case is never followed up after being aired once. Its usually discarded after garnering a desirable TRP rating. One such case that pulled the strings of my heart was that of Nitin Redekar’s. The 27-year-old seaman working for South African based "HDSA Shipping" was arrested on charges of possessing controlled drug for the purpose of trafficking. He has been convicted and sentenced to 13 years imprisionment in Seychelles.

His story is as follows...(I've copy pasted this from a news site)
On April 20, 2007, Shear Water(a cargo vessel) anchored at Seychelles for a day.
After finishing his work, he and two other Indian seaman decided to go ashore. As they were leaving the ship, a local stevedore working as a daily wage earner on the vessel approached Nitin and asked him to deliver two packets of food to a friend of his. Those packets contained drugs.
Minutes after Nitin had put the two aluminum foil-wrapped packets in his backpack, he and fellow seamen Nijesh Nandkumar and Abrar Khan were searched by security guards.
When the packets were opened and the cannabis revealed, Nitin tried to argue that they were not his. But the stevedore he allegedly got them from had vanished. He has still not been found.
All 3 were detained by the Anti-Drugs and Maritime Squad Unit. Nandkumar and Khan were later released.For the next 4 days, Nitin was not allowed to call his family, and no one else told them their son was in a foreign jail.
“It was only when he was finally allowed to make a phone call that we learnt about his arrest,” said Krishna, Nitin's father,an accountant with a Mumbai-based shipping firm.
“We were shocked. We didn’t know where to begin trying to get him home.”
The Redekars contacted the Indian embassy in the Seychelles, who said they have visited Nitin and were aware of the case. “They said it was clear he was innocent. He would soon be set free.” said Krishna.
The only witness in the case was Nandkumar. Krishna went to his hometown in Kerala and persuaded him to depose before the court. “I paid for his travel and accommodation in Seychelles. But even his testimony didn’t help my son.”
Having exhausted all his savings on Nandkumar’s trip and the lawyer’s fees, Krishna is now forced to ask friends and relatives for money so he can file an appeal against the verdict.
“I have been writing to the prime minister and External Affairs Ministry but have got no response. The Indian embassy says they can now do little,” he said.Meanwhile, embassy officials say Nitin is being looked after well in prison. He works in the kitchen and is allowed to call home twice a week.

It was undoubtedly, foolishness on the part of Nitin to have accepted the packets. Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is a little like expecting a bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian. Unfortunately for Nitin its a huge price to pay for this foolishness. I cant think of any way to provide help to him or his family (Any suggestions?) Lets help them in any way possible!!!