A Delhi court on Tuesday issued death warrants against all the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gangrape-murder case and ordered they be hanged on 22 January at 7 am in Tihar jail, over seven years after the brutal crime sparked outrage and anger across the country.
The death warrant, also known as black warrant, addressed to the office of the Tihar jail chief, was issued by Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora against Mukesh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31), all of whom are on death row.
“We have received the court order and will plan the execution of the four accordingly. Three of the accused are in Jail No. 2 and the fourth one is in Jail No. 4. Now they will be put in isolated cells and won’t be allowed to have any interaction with other prisoners,” Tihar jail sources were quoted as saying.
Reports said prison authorities in Uttar Pradesh will be approached to make available a hangman from Meerut to carry out the execution in Jail No. 3 in the biggest prison complex in Asia. It is said in all likelihood the four men will be hanged simultaneously amid reports that a new gallows frame is being readied for this purpose.
Nirbhaya’s mother Asha Devi was present in the court room in the Patiala House courts complex and became emotional during a brief media interaction.
“The hanging of the four convicts will restore the faith of women in law,” she said.
The court order was greeted with relief in Nirbhaya’s native village in Ballia in Uttar Pradesh.
“Though late, the family today got justice,” Nirbhaya’s grandfather Lalji Singh said. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the issuance of death warrants against the convicts has fulfilled a long-term wish of the people of Delhi and hoped it would be a lesson for people who misbehave with women.
The order was pronounced on applications moved by Nirbhaya’s parents and the prosecution (Delhi government) seeking issuance of death warrants against the convicts. Justice has finally been served.