Today marks the third anniversary of the infamous Nirbhaya rape and murder case. That terrible gang rape happened on December 16 2012, in a private bus when the victim, Jyoti Singh Pandey was travelling with a male friend. She was brutally assaulted by six persons, including the juvenile and later succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital plunging the country into grief.

But, the juvenile convict in the Nirbhaya gangrape is all set to walk free by December 20, 2015. According to news reports, Delhi government’s department of Women and Child Development (WCD) is planning to give the juvenile a one-time financial grant of Rs 10,000 and a sewing machine to enable him to open a tailoring shop.

The parents of the victim have expressed grief and opposition over juvenile’s release and say they feel no sense of closure. “We have failed. Now there is no hope for justice,” With each passing day her memories get more intense. But we are not even able to face the memories as we have failed to secure justice for her. And now there is no hope for justice,” the parents of the gang-rape victim said.”

The release of the juvenile has been a matter of debate for some time now, with the government not too keen to set him free. The Intelligence Bureau had earlier said that the rapist had allegedly been radicalised inside the correction home.

A petition was filed in the Delhi High Court on Monday (14th December) by BJP leader Subramaniam Swamy, claiming that the juvenile rapist, who is to be released on 20 December, had been radicalised during his internment and his release should be stopped for that reason. His petition is based on a report by the Intelligence Bureau, stating the same. The Centre is of the same opinion. The High Court is likely to take a decision before the due date of release.

Expressing her disappointment over the decision to release the juvenile convict in the brutal Nirbhaya gang-rape case, actor-politician Hema Malini on Wednesday said, “You can treat him as much you want, but he is not going to get treated. He is an adult and he should also be punished like an adult.” Today, Nirbhaya’s parents, in collaboration with women’s and citizens groups, will mark the day as Nirbhaya Chetna Divas at Jantar Mantar.