HC puts off Dharampals hanging to Jan 31

The Punjab and Haryana High Court once again deferred the hanging of murder convict Dharampal,this time shifting the execution date to January 31 next year. The case was adjourned awaiting outcome of an appeal filed in the SC by Dharampal and other similar condemned prisoners. The HC had earlier stayed the hanging on April 11. Dharampal was sentenced to death by the Supreme Court in 1999 for killing five members of the family of a girl he was charged with raping. The murders were committed while he was out on bail in 1993. In July,the President of India had dismissed his mercy petition. He was to be hanged on April 15 but the high court stayed it.