For Gurdip''s family, relief from death penalty brings hope

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 29

Temporary suspension of death row convict Gurdip Singh’s sentence minutes before his execution in Indonesia on Friday has brought with it hope for his family at Khaira Mohalla in Nakodar.

Gurdip’s wife Kulwinder Kaur thanked Union Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj for her efforts to save her husband.  

“I appeal to the Indian government to secure his release from the Indonesian Jail. Gurdip has spent almost 10 years in solitude and now deserves to be united with his family,” said Kaur. 

She also appealed to Indonesia for her husband's safe release.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj wrote on Twitter on Friday: "Indian Ambassador in Indonesia has informed me that Gurdip Singh whose execution was fixed for last night, has not been executed". 

Singh was among the 14 death row convicts who were to be executed at the Nusakambangan prison island by a firing squad on Friday morning, but spared at the very last minute.

Singh was among the 10 executions postponed.

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As many as 14 people were originally set to face the firing squad together on Friday, but officials decided a "comprehensive review" was needed to "avoid any mistake" in the 10 cases, Attorney General H. Muhammad Prasetyo said.

The date for the next round of executions has not been set, Prasetyo told reporters in Jakarta.

(Also read: Three Nigerians among four executed in Indonesia, 10 cases postponed)

Shattered dreams and hopes again

Confusion prevailed until late morning over the execution.

The Indian Embassy officials present at the prison island received reports about executions that had taken place inside the prison, but were initially unaware that only some prisoners were shot dead.

“However, minutes later, we received a call from the same official stating that although the rest of the prisoners were shot dead by the firing squad, Gurdip is safe,” said a relative. 

His wife Kulwinder Kaur now hopes her husband would be united with the family.

MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said on Thursday that Indian Embassy officials in Jakarta were trying to get Indonesia to stop Singh’s execution.

"Afdhal Muhammad, the legal representative of Singh was of the view that he can file for Presidential clemency under the relevant law before the President of Indonesia. The Embassy sent a Note Verbale to Indonesia's Foreign Ministry requesting that all legal recourse should be exhausted before the death penalty is carried out," Swarup said. 

Singh was among 14 people who were found guilty of trying to smuggle 300 gm of heroin into Indonesia in 2004. Singh has denied any wrongdoing.

He was arrested on August 29, 2004, at the Soekarno Hatta Airport on charges drug trafficking. The Tangerang Court sentenced him to death in February 2005, against the prosecutors' request for 20 years jail. His appeal against the death penalty was turned down by the High Court of Banten in May 2005. His appeal was turned down by the Indonesian Supreme Court. (With inputs from agencies)