The Rs5,000 payment sanctioned for the hangman in Ajmal Kasab’s execution, was shared equally bewteen two Yerawada jail staffers, who undertook the task.

Kasab was hanged at Pune’s Yerawada jail on November 21. The authorities did not reveal the identity of the hangman, except to say that a payment of Rs5,000 was made after the government hiked the amount from the previous Rs10 on a few days before.

Now, a senior official at Yerawada jail has said that two jail staffers were given the responsibility of preparations for the execution that involved weaving a rope for the hanging and setting up the platform.

“The hangman’s position at Yerawada jail has been vacant since the last man retired some years ago. There is no rule that the execution must be conducted only by a hangman. Therefore, it was decided to give the job to two jail guards,” the officer said, requesting anonymity.

“The two of them worked together to weave the rope and they also practised the procedure for the hanging the previous day,” the officer said. “After the execution of the operation, the senior jail officer paid the Rs5,000 equally to the two staffers.”

The others who were witness to the hanging was an inspector general of police, two deputy inspector generals of police, the Yerawada jail superintendent and a doctor. In the hours after the execution, jail officials talked about those who were involved with the operation suffering trauma.