There seems to be no shortage of farmers, businessmen, snake charmers, off-shore call centres and Bollywood movie stars among the world’s second most populous nation of 1.2 billion people. But, they don’t have a single professional hangman left in the whole country who is able to carry out the capital punishment.

Since India gained its independence in 1947, at least 50 convicts have been put to death, but only one person has been executed since 1995.

Executions aren’t really common place in India, even though some 345 people were reported to be on death row in 2008.

Execution was reserved for the “rarest of rare cases” because many convicted inmates are often successful with their mercy petitions.

In some instances prison officials even help the prisoners with their petitions, explains KV Reddy, president of the All-India Prison Officers Association, who coincidentally opposes capital punishment:

At times, we also help the person draft the petition.

Normally, everybody sympathizes with a person who has spent a number of years in prison.

Not this time though.

For the first time in a long time, India’s president has unexpectedly rejected a petition from condemned prisoner Mahendra Nath Das.

Somehow luck is still on his side, because Mammu Singh, the last known person eligible for the job in his province passed away in May at the age of 87.

The only other known living hangman currently has a broken arm and isn’t accepting new business.

Indian family tradition sometimes dictates that sons follow in their father’s footsteps and take over the family business, whatever it may be.

This prompted Mammu Singh’s eldest son, Pawan Kumar, to enter the family business 10 days after his father’s death in May and he applied for government certification as a hangman.

I just want to continue the family legacy.

I’m the fourth generation. You don’t see many volunteers coming forward. I’m serving my country.

The process of being granted the job takes its time too, because not just anybody can approved as a hangman in India, I’ll have you know.

In the meantime, Das remains on death row awaiting his fate.

[Source: TimeNewsFeed]