21 people waiting for gallows in Kerala; procedures for death sentence

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Apart from Asfaq in Aluva, 21 people are awaiting death sentences in four jails in the state. 9 in Poojapura, 5 in Viyyur, 4 in Kannur and 3 in Viyyur High Security Jail. Most have appealed to higher courts for leniency.

There are two gallows in Kannur and one in Poojapura to hang the prisoners if the President rejects the mercy petition. There are no permanent hangmen anywhere. Hangman will be appointed with a salary of Rs 2 lakh if a death sentence has to be carried out.

The last execution in Kerala was in Kannur 32 years ago. Ripper Chandran was hanged in 1991 for brutally murdering 14 people. Azhakesan, a native of Kaliakkavilai, was the last person to be hanged in Poojapura in 1979 for killing multiple toddlers as part of black magic. The convicts should be kept in the contempt cell if the death warrant is issued after the mercy petition is rejected. There are five such cells in Poojapura and ten in Kannur. Two people can be hanged at the same time in Kannur. Viyyur and Tavanur Central Prisons and High-Security Prisons do not have gallows.

Gallows in jails were strengthened after the execution of the death sentence in the Nirbhaya case. Rust was removed and a fresh coat of paint was applied, the strength of the ground bolts were checked and the levers were repaired. The Supreme Court has ordered that the death penalty should not be imposed unless it is the rarest of rare cases.

26 people have been hanged in Kerala so far:

• Ajithkumar, Anilkumar, Nino Mathew, Girish, Anilkumar, Arun Sasi, K Jithakumar, Sudheesh, Labalu Hasan (Poojappura).
• Rajendran, Narendrakumar, Parimal Sahu, Viswanandan (Kannur).
• Jomon, Mohammad Amirul Islam, Ranjith, Sunilkumar (Viyyoor )
• Regikumar, Abdul Nassar, Thomas Chacko (Maximum Security Jail)

People who escaped the gallows

• Antony in Aluva massacre case(supreme court reduced the sentence to life imprisonment)
• Ripper Jayanandan (Sentenced to life without parole by HC)
• Govindachami in Soumya case (remission of sentence due to error from police and prosecution)

For those sentenced to death

• No parole
• Must do prison work
• No solitary confinement
• Accommodation with common prisoners

A black warrant will be issued if the mercy plea of ​​those sentenced to death is rejected

• They will be made to stay alone in a cell at this stage
• Daily medical checkups
• Caution to make sure they do not get sick
• Safety to prevent suicide

98 countries have abolished the death penalty

539 people are awaiting death row in India