Afzal Guru's mercy petition rejected

New Delhi, Jun 23: Nearly a month after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks terrorist, Ajmal Amir Kasab was awarded the death sentence, the long-standing mercy petition of the convict in the 2001 Parliament House attack, Afzal Guru has been finally rejected and sources have revealed that he too will be facing the gallows.

"Mercy petition filed by Tabassum, wife of the Parliament House attack convict Afzal Guru, should be rejected. Nature of the crime committed is heinous and he deserves no mercy," a Home Ministry note said.

The ministry rejected the petition on the recommendation of the Delhi LG Tejendra Khanna.

On Dec 13, 2001, five terrorists attacked the parliament leaving seven security personnel dead. Mohammed Afzal Guru was charged with plotting the attack a few days later and on Dec 18, 2002 Delhi High Court awarded death sentence to thre Sopore resident.

The execution was fixed Oct 20, 2006. However, the hanging hung in balance for 9 years as the convict's wife Tabassum filed a mercy petition when APJ Abdul Kalam was the President and he sought the Home Ministry's views on the plea.

Delhi government was consulted by the home ministry. The state government needed 16 reminders to act on the petition and Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna sought clarifications on the Afzal Guru mercy petition on May 18, 2010.

Later, Lt Governor sent back Afzal file to the Home Ministry, saying it supported Afzal's death sentence.

OneIndia News