Big Story: Nirbhaya Gang Rape Convicts To Be Hanged On Jan 22

A Delhi court has issued a death warrant against the four convicts in the heinous Nirbhaya gang rape of 2012. Akshay Thakur Singh, Mukesh, Pawan Gupta and Vinay Sharma were found guilty in the 2012 gang-rape, torture and killing of a young medical student in Delhi. The four heard of the court's decision in a video conference. "This judgement will reinforce people's faith in the judiciary. My daughter will get justice," said Nirbhaya's mother, who had petitioned the court for a death warrant, saying she had waited seven years for justice.

The 23-year-old paramedic student, Jyoti Singh was gang-raped, tortured with an iron rod and her intestines culled out on a moving bus in south Delhi on December 16, 2012. She was then dumped on a road, naked and bleeding. She died on December 29. The country saw its biggest upheaval and street protests against women's safety that year. 

Also read: Seven Years Of Nirbhaya Gangrape Case: Justice Nowhere In Sight

Jyoti Yadav was named "Nirbhaya (fearless)", after her death and her parents took on the campaign to get her justice. Asha Devi and Badrinath, organised Nirbhaya Chetna Diwas every year in their unfailing demand for justice for their daughter. They are relieved today. Nirbhaya's father, Badrinath Singh, also expressed relief. "It was a long journey, I am happy with the verdict," he said.

Nirbhaya rapists to be hanged, Picture after verdict, NDTV

The convicts have 14 days to use their final legal options, including a curative petition before the Supreme Court. Tihar jail officials will write to Uttar Pradesh Prisons department to seek the service of a hangman and to inform them about the date and time of execution of all the four convicts as decided by the court.

"Decision will restore people's faith in judiciary, act as deterrent to crime against women," noted an official statement from NCW on death warrants against Nirbhaya convicts. Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) head Swati Maliwal said, "It's a victory for every citizen of the country, I salute the mother who kept fighting for the past seven years," she said. "I would also like to thank the judges. Such rapists should be brought to justice in six months."

In an earlier interview with SheThePeople, Nirbhaya cop Chhaya Sharma shared her views on death penalty. "Personally, I feel capital punishment must be given for rarest of rare cases.  It should be an exemplary punishment and to exhibit the state’s response to rapists. However, the final call lies with the Hon’ble Supreme Court."

Ranjana Kumari of Centre of Social Research said it took too long for the judgment. "The legal battle is won. This legal system should be reviewed if the judiciary is serious about safety of women in the nation because if we have 117,000 rape cases pending in different courts and this is the kind of timeframe we are looking at, then the law will never become a deterrent for such crimes."