Nirbhaya case convicts hanged: From kin to investigators, all relieved; victim’s dad says ‘it’s a day for all women of country’

NEW DELHI: As death warrants followed appeals in various courts and mercy pleas in the 2012 Nirbhaya gangarape-cum-murder case that prolonged the wait for justice, Friday morning, March 20, proved to the "sun-rise for India's daughters", as aptly summed up by the victim's mom.

Seems, from the investigators to the kin to the political class to the common man, every law-abiding citizen must be feeling relieved at the rare hanging of four convicts together - in the rarest of the rare case - in the independent India that changed the society forever, especially from women's security standpoint and in terms of how it looks at women.

Tareekh pe tareekh

Even as the convicts delayed the process of justice and kept away gallows for a long time sending social media into a tizzy as to "aakhir kab" - it has been seven long years since the day the victim died - the curtains came down at 5.30am on Friday when Akshay, Pawan, Vinay and Mukesh of the six men were finally hanged to death.

‘Hanging of convicts real tribute to Nirbhaya’
While investigating officers of the 2012

Nirbhaya gangrape

and murder case on Friday called the hanging of the four convicts a "real tribute" to the 23-year-old physiotherapy intern, Nirbhaya's father Badrinath Singh said it's a day for all women of country.

Pramod Singh Kushwaha, then the additional DCP (South) and who headed the investigation team, said each and every member of the team pitched in to prepare a watertight case against the convicts.

Asha Devi

heaves a sigh of relief

As the news of the hanging of her daughter's four rapists flashed on the TV screen, victim’s mother Asha Devi hugged her loved ones, held back her tears and with a voice heavy with emotion said that the sun will rise on Friday with new hopes for daughters of India.

Political class hail the hanging

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi said "Justice has prevailed", Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said: "It's a day to take resolution that we will not allow another Nirbhaya case. Police, courts, states, Centre should resolve to remove loopholes in the system to not allow Nirbhaya-like incident to any daughter.”



Modi added: "It is of utmost importance to ensure dignity and safety of women. Our Nari Shakti has excelled in every field. Together, we have to build a nation where the focus is on women empowerment, where there is emphasis on equality and opportunity."



It's a day of satisfaction that a daughter, who underwent so much pain, has got justice, said Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

The common man rejoices
From the scenes of jubilation at UP village Balia to Delhi Commission for Women, the verdict is the same: we have arrived as a nation when it comes to the honour of India's women.

"It is a historic day today as Nirbhaya has got justice after over seven years," DCW chairperson

Swati Maliwal

said.

Convicts’ last moments and last rites

While

Mukesh Singh

wished to donate his organs and had given it in writing to the authorities, as per sources in

Tihar Jail

, Vinay had offered paintings.

Agencies quoted Tihar Jail DG as saying: Convicts Mukesh and Vinay had dinner and Akshay had only tea, last night. Vinay cried a bit but all four convicts were quiet. They were continuously updated on court orders. If their families claim their bodies it will be handed over to them else it is our duty to cremate them."

The four death row convicts spent a restless and sleepless night before they were hanged to death. Officials however added, Nirbhaya convicts did not express any last wish before hanging. The money earned by all four convicts during their stay at Tihar jail would be handed over to their families. After the post-mortem, the bodies of the convicts will be handed over to their respective families. The families of the convicts will have to give an undertaking in writing that they will not make a public demonstration of any kind in relation to the cremation or burial of the bodies.

Bodies of all four convicts were brought to DDU Hospital for post-mortem. The post-mortem will be done as recommended by the jail manual and Supreme Court guidelines.

With inputs from agency

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