Drop of loop that decided hanging of Nirbhaya convicts

The four convicts in the Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case were hanged as scheduled at 5:30 am on Friday.

The jail authorities had procured eight sets of Manila ropes.

While four of them were used the rest are being kept on standby.

Dummy hangings were undertaken earlier in presence of the officials on Wednesday.

The hanging had been postponed twice after the convicts decided to exercise further legal rights.

While the preparation of the rope was crucial another factor that was taken into consideration is the weight of the convict.

The weight is important since it is on this basis that the drop is decided.

If the prisoner weighs less than 45 kgs, he should be given a drop of 8 feet or 2.5 mtrs.

If the prisoner weighs 45 to 60 kgs, he should be given a drop of 7 feet 8 inches or 2.3 mtrs.

If the prisoner weighs more than 60 kgs, but not more than 75 kgs, he should be given a drop of 7 feet or 2.2 mtrs.

If the prisoner weighs more than 75 kgs but not more than 91 kgs, he should be given a drop of 6 feet 6 inches or 2 mtrs.

If the prisoner weighs more than 200 lbs. or 91 kgs, he should be given a drop of 6 feet 1.83 mtrs.