A hangman in Meerut has become much sought in the last few days as he awaits his maiden opportunity to execute Surinder Koli. (Representational Image)
A hangman in Meerut has become much sought in the last few days as he awaits his maiden opportunity to execute Surinder Koli, the convict in the Nithari serial murders case.
Mediapersons assemble at Pawan Singh's house from dawn till dusk daily waiting for his comments ahead of the hanging on September 12.
For Pawan 'Jallad' (hangman), as he is popularly known, all this hype and fame is not new, as he comes from a family of hangmen who have made history hanging famous convicts.
His grandfather Kallu had hanged the rapist kidnapper duo of Ranga and Billa in 1982, and also Kehar Singh and Satwant Singh in the Indira Gandhi assassination case in 1986. Altogether, he had executed 12 infamous convicts.
Pawan's father Mammu Singh was a hangman in Meerut Jail, but never hanged a criminal, according to jail authorities.
Mammu had prepared ropes to hang 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab and 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, but died due to illness before he could do so.
After his father, Pawan had nurtured hopes to hang the two, but the executions were done in a top-secret manner by the Centre.
The hangman will finally make his maiden hanging by putting the noose on Koli in Meerut jail on September 12 as per court orders.
Koli was awarded death sentence by a lower court, which was upheld by the Allahabad High Court and confirmed by the Supreme Court on February 15, 2011 for the murder of Rimpa Halder in 2005.