"Suicide watch" on the four Nirbhaya case convicts; tight security measures in the special cells of Tihar jail till their execution

New Delhi, Jan 25: Tight security arrangements have been made in the special cell of Tihar Jail as the four Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case are lodged there before their hanging on February 1. Round the clock vigil is being kept on these condemned prisoners-Mukesh Singh, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Akshay Thakur and Vinay Sharma- on the apprehension that they might attempt suicide out of depression before their hanging. Unprecedented security measures have been initiated in Tihar jail now, said a jail employees requesting anonymity. Each and every movement of the four death warantees is under watch. As if their every breath is being counted.  The four convicts have been lodged in separate single cells in the high risk ward of Tihar jail. The front portion of these 6x8 ft cells has been kept open with more than armed security guard having been deployed. There is no iron railing or beam on the  roof of these cells, which are without any cloth-made partition wall. Even the toilets have been built with a half partition wall through which the heads of the inmates are visible. Their cells are being checked twice daily. Two CCTV cameras have been installed in each of these cells. The CCTV footages are being monitored round the clock from the offices of the Jail Superintendent and the jail administration. These precautionary measures have been taken on the apprehension that the condemned prisoners might attempt suicide by banging their heads against the walls or inflicting bleeding injuries. They usually take such recourse to avoid or delay the death punishment. To avoid such incident, the security guards keeping close  vigil on the condemned prisoners who await hanging. If the guards see any such attempts, they are directed to enter the cell to stop the prisoners from making suicide attempt. Apart from these security measures, physical and mental health check up of the 4 Nirbhaya case convicts is being undertaken by the jail doctors on daily basis. Six accused persons had on December 16, 2012 had dumped a para medical student following gang rape on a running bus and  attempt to kill her with the help of an iron rod. Consequently, the victim died later in the hospital.. The master mind in this gang rape and murder case Ram Singh had committed suicide in the toilet of the general ward of Tihar jail on March 11, 2013 during pendency of the case. Another accused was lodged in a child reform home for three years as he was a minor. The remaining four accused have been convicted and awarded death sentence. The Tihar jail authorities have taken all measures to keep the four convicts healthy and safe till their execution.