KL Report
Srinagar
Parliament attack convicted Mohammad Afzal Guru was hanged Saturday early morning in Tihar jail resulting in very tense situation in the Kashmir valley. Central Home Secretary, R K Singh while confirming the hanging of Guru said that earlier president Pranab Mukharji rejected the mercy petition of Guru.
Guru was hanged in cell number 3 of Tihar jail at 5:25 AM.
Afzal was awarded death sentence by a Delhi court on December 18, 2002 after being convicted of conspiracy to attack Parliament on December 13, 2001. The death sentence was upheld by Delhi High Court on October 29, 2003 and finally his appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court two years later on August 4, 2005.
Nine security personnel, including five policemen, were killed when suspected Pakistan-backed terrorists had attacked Parliament.
Afzal Guru’s execution had been initially scheduled on October 20, 2006. The execution was stayed after his wife filed a mercy petition with the President.
Even as Guru remained on death row, some political parties and human rights activists claimed that he had not received a fair trial and pleaded that his sentence be commuted. Hurriyat leaders including the inflexible Syed Ali Geelani has also pleaded for his clemency.