We all must have seen in movies that criminal who get death penalties are hanged before sunrise, but have you ever wondered why so early and not at any other time?
The death penalty is given out to an individual who has committed a grave crime in the eyes of law. The ruling is a constitutionally sanctioned practice under which a person is put to death, as a form of punishment.
Before being hanged, the jail administration asks the criminal’s last wish. However, the prisoner’s wish is fulfilled only if it is under the jail’s manual.
After pulling the lever, the prisoner stays in the hanging position for 10 minutes, then a team of doctors check whether he has died or not. The prisoner is brought down only when the doctors are sure of his death.
During the carrying out of the execution, the jail superintendent, the executive magistrate, and a hangman have to be present, if any of the officials is absent then the punishment cannot be carried out.
The time is fixed in the morning because according to the jail manual, all jail functions are done only after sunrise and this would ensure that the other daily chores are not affected.
Hanging of a person is big news for the affected society. To restrain the effect of the hanging on the collective conscience of the society and to limit any social trauma or outcry, the execution is carried out before the society wakes up to the event.
PNN/Agencies