Chidambaram says govt. to consider Afzal Guru's mercy petition

New Delhi, May 25 (ANI): Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today said that the UPA Government has decided to take a decision whether to accept or reject the mercy petitions of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and 27 other prisoners on death row.

Chidambaram indicated that Afzal's petition would be taken up after similar pleas by 21 others who are listed in sequence before him.

He told reporters: "There are 28 cases on death row. I have asked the Home Secretary to take up those cases in order in which they appear on that list and to ensure that a decision is taken whether the mercy petition should be accepted or rejected. We will advise the President accordingly."

"The home secretary will now take up the first case and follow it through and we will go down in that order," Chidambaram said.

The Home Minister added that they (officers) will update him on each case one by one. (ANI)