August 23
INDIA:
Indian state has 55 convicts on death row, but no executioner
The lawless eastern Indian state of Bihar has a total of 55 convicts on
death row but no executioner, it was reported on Monday.
One of the death row inmates, 70-year-old Shobhit Chamaar, has already
spent 13 years in Bhagalpur Central Jail, the Times of India newspaper
reported. This is just 1 year short of the usual life sentence served in
India.
Chamaar, a Dalit, or lower caste villager, was convicted for murdering his
landlord and has spent 10 of his 13 years of incarceration in solitary
confinement in a cold, dark cell, with a single window. Chamaars mercy
plea before the Indian president has been pending for 6 years. He lost an
earlier appeal filed with the Supreme Court, as did 5 others among the 55
convicts facing death sentences in Bihar.
Of the four jails in the state, only Bhagalpur Jail has gallows. But
neither Bhagalpur, nor the other 3 jails have designated executioners.
Surendra Kumar Awastha, chief superintendent of Bhagalpur Jail, said the
post at his institution had been abolished ages ago. He added that with 5
mercy petitions pending before the president, the jail could receive an
execution order any day.
(source: Khaleej Times)
