Kolkata: Unhappy at the inordinate delay in the execution of Dhananjay Chatterjee convicted of rape and murder of 14-year-old girl Hetal Parekh and ashamed of their fellow intellectuals' stand on the issue, a section of the city's glamorous and intellectuals today demanded hanging of the criminal, preferably in public.

"I am sure he will be hanged. But we want hanging in public to send a message to other Dhananjays in society," Nimai Bhattacharjee, noted author and former journalist, said.

Terming the crime committed by Dhananjay - rape of a teenager after murdering her - was more heinous than that of Ranga and Billa who were hanged for rape of a girl and murder of her brother in Delhi, he said, "In every 56 seconds, a woman is raped in India. It is high time some action was taken".

Bhattacharjee, along with veteran actress Madhabi Mukherjee, regretted that some intellectuals were voicing concern for the culprit. "I feel ashamed for my co-intellectuals", he said.

Mukherjee, famed for her roles in some Satyajit Ray masterpieces, said "I, on behalf of all mothers and daughters of our society, demand execution of Dhananjay."

Joining a gathering of the neighbours of Hetal Parekh, in front of the Parekh family's former residence 'Ananda Apartment', Tollywood actor Biplab Chatterjee said, "We should appeal to the President to not only reject the mercy petition, but allow to hang him in public. Today's situation in our society requires such deterrent."

Rupa Ganguly, another Tollywood star, said such cases should be dealt separately by the Judiciary to ensure early disposal.