08 September 2004 :

Despite having 69 death row prisoners, it was reported that the Indian state of Bihar had no hangman. "We will arrange for a hangman if the situation demands," said Inspector General (Prison) Deepak Kumar Singh. Singh said there was no provision to employ a permanent hangman. It was a post that was abolished long ago. The last hanging in Bihar took place in the Bhagalpur jail in 1995. A sweeper in the jail carried out the hanging. Bhagalpur is Bihar's only jail with the gallows. Officials said the cases of 64 death row prisoners were pending with the Supreme Court. Five of them had filed mercy petitions with the Indian president.