Father: I will sleep peacefully tonight

 Nirbhaya would have celebrated her 28th birthday next Wednesday if not for the “savage lust of a gang of six” on a “shattering cold night” five years ago.

Her family believes that their daughter will finally rest in peace with the Supreme Court verdict. “We have got justice, I was living for this day,” Asha Devi, mother of the 2012 gang-rape victim, said as the apex court rejected the appeal of the death row convicts.

For her parents, it was a battle to ensure that their daughter got justice. “I will sleep peacefully tonight,” said Badrinath Singh, Nirbhaya’s father.

Though Singh is happy about the verdict, the delay has not been very comforting. “What about justice for others whose cases are pending in courts,” he asked.

For the last five years, the couple has been the face of anti-rape protests in the country. When the amendments to make the anti-rape laws more stringent were delayed, Asha became the face of the protests and Parliament then passed the legislation.

The family also runs “Nirbhaya Jyoti Trust” to help rape victims. While stressing that their daughter should be identified by her name, Singh said, “Those who commit such crimes should hang their heads, not us.”

Asha said she remembered her daughter every moment during the long struggle. “At times I would feel weak, wanting to give up the fight. But then my daughter’s face would flash in front of my eyes and I would pull myself up,” she said.