Four men convicted in the 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape and murder were hanged to death at 5.30 a.m. on Friday.
The four men convicted in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder, the horrific incident that took place in Delhi on December 16, 2012, were hanged to death on Friday pre-dawn, ending a chapter in India’s long history of sexual assault.
Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma, and Akshay Kumar were executed at 5.30 a.m. for the savage assault in an empty moving bus on the 23-year-old physiotherapy intern who came to be known the world over as Nirbhaya, the fearless one.
Here are the latest updates:
Justice finally done but fight to ensure speedy justice will continue: Nirbhaya’s family
Justice has finally been done and women will definitely feel safer now, Nirbhaya’s parents said after four men convicted of gang rape and murder of their daughter were executed on Friday, resolving that their next fight would be to plug the loopholes that delay punishment.
Talking to reporters at her home in Dwarka in west Delhi, Nirbhaya’s mother Asha Devi said justice was delayed but not denied in the 2012 case. Her father Badrinath Singh said although his daughter has got justice, the family will now fight for daughters of the country and work to plug the loopholes in the rape laws.
“We will request the Supreme Court to issue guidelines so that no one can adopt delaying tactics in such cases in future,” the mother said, referring to the execution of death warrants being deferred thrice by a court on various grounds.
– PTI
Time to introspect on death-row convicts using delaying tactics: Ravi Shankar Prasad
Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Friday was a day of satisfaction with Nirbhaya getting justice, but also time to introspect whether death-row convicts could be allowed to “manipulate” system to delay execution.
“It’s a day of satisfaction that a daughter, who underwent so much pain, has got justice,” Prasad told reporters in Parliament premises. “It’s time for judiciary, government and civil society to introspect whether death-row convicts can be allowed to manipulate system and cause delay.”
– PTI
Hanging of Nirbhaya convicts a ‘dark stain’ on India’s human rights record: Amnesty
Death penalty is never the solution towards ending violence against women, rights group Amnesty International India said on Friday, calling the execution of the four Nirbhaya case convicts a “dark stain” on India’s human rights record.
He also said that what is actually needed are effective, long-term solutions like prevention and protection mechanisms to reduce gender-based violence, improving investigations, prosecutions and support for victims’ families.
Finally done but justice delayed: Bollywood celebs
As the four convicts in the Nirbhaya rape and murder case were hanged on Friday morning, Bollywood celebrities including Sushmita Sen, Taapsee Pannu and Ritiesh Deshmukh praised the verdict, but also called for stricter laws for crime against women in India.
Taapsee said the “long long battle” of the family finally came to end.
“It’s done. Finally. I hope the parents can finally sleep slightly better tonight after YEARS. It’s been a long long battle for them. Asha Devi,” she tweeted.
Actor Raveena Tandon also demanded swift justice in such cases in future.
“The planet is less 4 monsters. 8 long years, the parents have waited for justice. High time we demand swift justice. We have finally put Nirbhaya to rest,”she wrote on the microblogging site.
Actor Preity Zinta tweeted, “Finally the #Nirbhayacase comes to an end. I wish it would have been faster but I’m happy it’s over. Finally she & her parents are in peace. #RIPNirbhaya #Justicedelayed #TookTooLong.”
“If #Nirbhaya rapists were hung in 2012 the judicial system would have stopped so much crime against women. Fear of the law would have kept the lawless in check. Prevention is always better than cure. It’s time the Indian govt takes steps for judicial reforms. #RIPNirbhaya,” she added.
Sharing similar sentiments, Riteish said, “Stricter law enforcement, harsher punishment & fast courts for quick justice is the only way to instil fear in monsters who even think of such heinous acts. #JusticeForNirbhaya… The wait has been long but the justice has been served.”
“A Mother’s resilience Asha Devi sees it through!! Finally some justice!!” Sushmita Sen posted.
