Federation for people rights plea on Afzal's clemency

Puducherry, Oct 13: The Federation for People's Rights today urged President A P J Abdul Kalam to grant clemency to Mohammed Afzal Guru who is facing death in the Parliament Attack Case.

In a statement, Federation Secretary G Sugumaran said 127 countries had abolished death penalty and India, being the land of Mahatma Gandhi who propogated Ahimsa, should follow suit.

Mr Sugumaran said in the clemency petition to the President, the lawyer and family members of Afzal claimed the case was not properly investigated.

Even famous writer Arunthathi Roy had said 'the whole case was full of faulty evidences and fabricated stories.' It was also not proved that crimes were being curbed by imposing death sentence and by this, a chance was denied to the culprits to repent and correct themself, he said.

Mr Sugumaran said clemency should be granted to nearly 50 petitions pending before the President.

UNI