December 16 convicts should meet ultimate fate: Victim's parents

NEW DELHI: The ultimate satisfaction will be when the convicts meet their ultimate fate, parents of the December 16 gangrape victim today said, reacting to the Delhi High Court verdict upholding death penalty to the four men.

The parents of the 23-year-old physiotherapy student, who was raped on a moving bus on a Sunday night in Delhi more than a year ago, were present in the packed court room at the time of pronouncement of the verdict.

Soon after the verdict, they walked out holding each other's hand and said "we are happy, but we would have been more happy if the criminals were awarded more than this."

"The way they had shamed the society, they deserve nothing less than this (hanging). We have got full faith in the judiciary. We had expected this verdict. But the ultimate satisfaction will be when the convicts meet their ultimate fate," the mother of the victim told reporters outside the court room.

"Hume pura nyay tabhi milega jab hum inko faansi pe latakte dekh le (We will get justice only when we see all of them hanging)," she said, adding they will be at peace only after that.

The mother, with tears in her eyes, said that since the day their daughter left them they have been living their lives with the sole goal of seeing the perpetrators get what they deserve. She also said, "with this verdict not only I, but the people of this nation, who stood by us while protesting at India Gate will also be happy to hear this".

The victim's father also turned emotional while speaking to the media saying, "I was not aware that the judgement was coming today. I came to know about it at 11 AM and I was surprised. I was worried about the outcome but when the judges announced the verdict, it really came out as a surprise for me." He further said that he is very happy today.

On being asked about the juvenile, who will walk out of the correction home after three years, he said, "Juvenile's case is pending before the Supreme Court and I hope I get a surprise, like today, in that judgement also.

"Yes death penalty will deter people from committing such crimes in future," the father added.