Indore's hangman eager to hang Afzal

Indore, Oct 15 (UNI) Amidst the raging debate over the question of executing Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru, city-resident Balkrishna Walekar -- one of northern India's select hangmen -- is still hopeful that he will be summoned for the task though Meerut's Mamu has already been bestowed that responsibility.

''In my heart of hearts I feel that I will be called and I have appealed to the government in this regard. Mamu is new to the job and therefore lacks experience,'' the 80-odd Walekar, who has executed 11 convicts thus far and spent time with Mamu's father, told UNI.

The last time he carried out an execution was way back in 1996.

Walekar feels that a person who attacks Parliament -- the nation's highest institution -- deserves the death penalty and this will teach terrorists a lesson.

Regarding human rights organisations protesting against capital punishment, Walekar said, ''If hanging is abolished, the common people will have an even harder existence as fear of the law will decline and criminals will be further emboldened.'' The hangman, who served in the Army and was later a warden at the Central Jail here, says he adopted execution as a profession because he always felt that ''the nation is ours and the enemy has to be slain. A traitor must be eliminated.'' Despite being advanced in years and with his sons and daughters already employed, Walekar says he will carry out more hangings, if provided the opportunity, until the last day of his life.

''However, my children ask me to quit. But I have never felt neglected by society on account of being an executioner,'' he added.

When asked whether he ever felt remorseful, Walekar said he always gathered details about the convicts' past and then his mind said that it would be no sin to kill such persons.

''I did feel bad about executing a youth at Jabalpur,'' he reminisced.

UNI AA-AC MIR KP1716