Ram Singh, one of the main accused of the 16th December gang rape case and the driver of the bus in which the gang rape happened, was found hanging in Tihar Jail today morning.
It is extremely suspicious how a man under such strict vigilance and security in custody could hang himself. The accused was under the 'suicide watch' in the jail at the time of the incident.
With the death of Ram Singh in custody, a rare chance of 'conviction' in a case of rape has been lost. Also, given the fact that he was driving a bus that had a rather dubious record of being fined several times for breaking rules and yet found itself on roads, there was a possibility that the trial would also in course of time expose the alleged nexus between the bus owners, traffic police authorities and several local politicians.
The circumstances of Ram Singh's death call for a thorough inquiry and those responsible for such grave lapses should be immediately brought to book.
It is not a time for a lynch mob celebration of the death since the chance that our investigating system had of redeeming itself has been lost. Ram Singh's death in the present circumstances cannot reaffirm people's faith in the investigative or judicial system which was much needed.
We demand a thorough inquiry of the death.
Kavita Krishnan is Secretary, All India Progressive Women's Association (AIPWA)
