Amroha death row convict files fresh mercy plea

Shabnam and her lover Saleem have been convicted of killing seven members of her family after sedating them in April 2008. The date and time for the execution have not been set. Shabnam is the first woman to face execution in India since the country's independence.

Rampur (Uttar Pradesh):Amroha death row inmate, Shabnam, who was convicted for killing seven members of her family in April 2008, filed another mercy petition before Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel on Friday.

Convict Shabnam had approached UP Governor earlier for pardon, but Patel had rejected her plea.

Article 161 of the Constitution of India empowers the Governors of States to grant pardon to the convict who has committed an offence against state law.

According to Rampur Jail Superintendent, lawyers of the convict met her on Thursday.

Earlier, her 12-year-old son Mohammed Taj who was born in prison had appealed to the President to forgive and pardon his mother.

Mohammed is under the guardianship of Shabnam's college mate Usman Saifi and stays with him.

After the Child Welfare Committee of Amroha issued an advertisement stating that women prisoners cannot keep their children above 6 years of age with them according to the jail manual and appealed for adoption of Mohammed, Usman Saifi stepped in.

Mohammed is currently studying in a prestigious institute in Bulandshar.

Shabnam and her lover Saleem had been convicted of killing seven members of her family after sedating them in April 2008.

The death warrant, about date and time of hanging, has not been issued by Amroha court yet.

Also read: Independent India's first woman to face execution

After the President of India rejected the mercy petition of Shabnam in 2008, she will be the first woman to face execution in Independent India.

As per sources, once the execution date is fixed, execution will be carried out by a hangman named Pawan, who is also known as Pawan Jallad.

Pawan is a professional executioner who also carried out the execution of the convicts in the Nirbhaya case.

(With agency inputs)