Ram Singh, Suspect in India Rape Case Found Dead … Hanged Himself in Jail

Ram Singh, one of the suspects of the gang rape and murder of a 23 year old Indian woman, was found dead in his jail cell in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail. According to accounts Singh hanged himself from the ceiling with his own clothes. Singh was one of five men [sixth suspect in a juvenile] that have been accused of kidnapping, rape and murder. Singh was the driver of the bus aboard which several men brutally raped a 23-year-old woman on December 16. She later died from her injuries. All had pleaded not guilty. The crime grew international attention and outrage. The heinous crime has prompting widespread debate over the way the country handles sexual assaults and the treatment of women in Indian society.

One of the five men accused in the gang rape of a 23-year-old Indian woman—a crime that received widespread international attention—was found dead in a jail here, his lawyer said Monday.

Ram Singh was found dead at Tihar Jail, Delhi’s main prison, at around 5:15 a.m., said his lawyer, V.K. Anand.

Mr. Singh, 33 years old, and four other men were being held at the jail during their trial at a special court in Delhi on charges that include kidnapping, rape and murder. The five men have pleaded not guilty.

“He hanged himself [from] the ceiling with his own clothes,” said Sunil Gupta, spokesman for Tihar Jail.

However, Ram Singh’s lawyer and parents claim he was murdered. They stated, “there was no reason for him to commit suicide”. Oh of course not, he was only being accused of a crime where is found guilty, he could be facing the death penalty. Their trial began in February. If convicted, the men could face the death penalty. Also, a sixth suspect is 17 and will be tried separately in juvenile court.