All the four convicted in the December 16, 2012 gangrape and murder of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student inside a private bus in Delhi have been sentenced to death by the Saket fast track trial court.

Akshay Thakur, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Mukesh Singh were sentenced to death by hanging at a fast-track court in Delhi on Friday. The death penalty has been awarded under Section 302 (murder) as the braveheart had died due to the injuries inflicted by the convicts. The judge said it was the 'rarest of rare crimes' and deserved the death sentence.

"We are very happy. Justice has been delivered. They did not spare her.  Why should they be shown any mercy?" the student's father said after the verdict was announced.

Following the verdict, home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said: “Justice was given to the girl and her family…… Even earlier there have been such decisions where death penalty has been given on rarest of rare cases….. No one can put pressure on the judicial authority.”

The verdict comes nine months after the extremely brutal gangrape and murder of the girl which had shook the national conscience and led to massive protests in the national capital.

Also read: Delhi gangrape & murder: hail the fast-track court

Of the six men who were arrested, Ram Singh was found hanging in his prison cell in March. Another, who was 17 at the time of the attack, was convicted by a juvenile court and sentenced to three years in a reform centre.

The woman and her male friend were lured onto a bus on December 16. As the bus drove through South Delhi, passing through three police check points, the men hit the student's friend with iron rods before using them to violate her. 45 minutes later, the couple was thrown naked and semi-conscious on the road.

Social networking websites were flooded with comments on the verdict.

Who said what

"I welcome the judgement in Delhi gang rape case. This will serve as a deterrent for such offences"- Sushma Swaraj

"Clear message to parents and teachers and community at large. Be responsible! Or be hung! And lose your life. Thanku for Justice Done!"- Kiran Bedi

"Death Sentence of the Rapists!!!!! Thank god...there is a god!!! and finally...there is JUSTICE!!!"- Karan Johar.