India finds hope and closure as the Nirbhaya case comes to an end: Four Indian men executed.

India finds hope and closure as Justice is prevailed in the Nirbhaya case: Four Indian men executed.

Jyoti Singh was only 23 years-old.  An intelligent and determined medical student with hopes to one day become a Physiotherapist. Her whole life was ahead of her.

On December 12th, 2016 at 9:30 p.m. Jyoti was gang-raped and assaulted on a Delhi bus. She was simply trying to make it back home.

The only reason we even know her story is because Jyoti narrated it herself to the Delhi Police and Doctors. By this point Jyoti had suffered severe multiple internal injuries, brain injuries and a heart attack. Yet she braved on.

The Indian nation was in complete shock. Jyoti clung to life as the world prayed for a miraculous recovery.

On December 29th, 2016 Jyoti Singh sadly passed away. 

Emotions were high across the country as people expressed anger and and pain. The nation renamed her, ‘Nirbhaya’ which means ‘Fearless’.  People rioted and demanded justice, shouting in unison across the country:

“Don’t tell Women what to wear, Teach your Sons to Respect Women!!”

The government of India created new precedents. It set in motion rules and regulations for stricter sentences and punishments to anyone convicted of sexual assault. It created six fast-track courts which are dedicated solely for rape persecutions. In addition to this, the government also implemented a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years to anyone who is convicted of gang rape.

7 years later the Indian High Courts decided that all four men convicted in the rape and death of 23 year-old Jyoti Singh would receive one final punishment, death by execution.

For many people todays execution at Tihar Jail in Delhi is providing much needed closure. However, there are many who feel there is still a long way to go.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his thoughts via twitter:

Roshni Patel, Founder of UrbanAsian, states,

“We live in a world where we still lack protection. We don’t know when or how we might be the next victim. The government needs to work harder on such laws to ensure the citizen are protected. Nirbhaya woke many up however, we still have so much to do. We need to protect the next generations to come. We can talk but we won’t take action. North American Indians/NRIs talk about this topic so much that they have become tired of no solution.

So what is the solution? To upbring our families and children in the right manner. India has much more to achieve along with other countries. We just hope for the best.”

American Criminal Justice Analyst Sadhika Soor shares that,

“The death penalty is certainly warranted in a case of this magnitude. The offenders and their attorneys repeatedly attempted to prolong their death sentence. This is a waste of the courts time and resources.

An execution for all of the offenders involved will hopefully send a message that the Indian justice system is finally taking a stand against rape in Delhi and beyond.

Sex crimes are among the worst and most heinous types of offences. They’ve been rampant in India for far too long. I’m hopeful that the courts decision will be a turning point in the processing of sex crimes in India. I’m also hopeful that the execution will deter would-be offenders from committing similar crimes.”