HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGNERS are calling on the Indian government not to proceed with two hangings, which would be the first to occur in the state in seven years.

The prisoners in question are Mahendra Nath Das, who has been on death row for 14 years for murder, and Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, who was placed on death row in 2001 for his alleged role in Delhi terror attacks that left nine people dead.

Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific director Sam Zarifi described as “hugely disappointing” the prospect that India would execute two men “after an encouraging seven-year hiatus,” and said such a move would be a step backwards for human rights in the country.

“For India to use the death penalty now would also be bucking the global trend towards ending executions, numbers of which continue to decline,” he said.

The Independent reports that India’s highest court ruled in 1983 that the death penalty should be applied only in the “rarest of rare cases”. Recently, the courts decided that those found responsible for ‘honour’ killings and terrorist attacks be eligible for capital punishment.

However, as the death penalty is so rarely applied, there is no executioner in the state of Assam, where Das is incarcerated. The head of Jorhat jail, in which Das is being held, told the Times of India: “As there is no hangman in the state, the exact date of execution is yet to be fixed”.