Dhananjoy Chatterjee, Ranga And Billa — Rapists Who Were Executed in India Before Nirbhaya Convicts

On learning that the father of the kidnapped children was a naval officer, Ranga and Billa panicked and killed them in brutal manner.

New Delhi: After 7 years and 3 months, Nirbhaya (2012 Delhi gangrape victim) finally got justice on March 20 as the four convicts — Mukesh, Pawan, Akshay and Vinay — were hanged to death at 5.30 AM. It was the first time post Independence that four men are hanged to death together in the country.

However, this not the first time that rapists have been hanged to death in the country. Earlier three convicts — Ranga, Billa and Dhananjoy Chatterjee were executed in the country for the heinous crime.

Geeta Chopra case, 1978: This case has left the national capital shocked when it occurred.  Convicts Ranga aka Kuljeet Singh and Billa aka Jasbir were sent to the gallows for the sensational kidnapping and killing of two siblings in Delhi in 1978. Ranga and Billa, who had just been released from the Arthur Road prison in Mumbai had kidnapped siblings Geeta Chopra and her brother Sanjay Chopra for ransom.

On learning that the father of the kidnapped children was a naval officer, Ranga and Billa panicked and killed them in brutal manner. Before the murder, the duo had raped Geeta. They were awarded death penalty, and executed on 31 January 1982.

1990 rape-murder case: Dhananjoy Chatterjee, a security guard in an apartment complex in south Kolkata, was hanged after being convicted of raping and murdering a 14-year-old girl, who was home alone, on March 5, 1990.

As per his last wish, Dhananjoy was offered sweets and curd. He was also given a new shirt and pyjamas, which he
wore to the  gallows.