The accused of 2001 Parliament attack was hanged at 8 AM today after President rejected his mercy plea. Curfew has been imposed in Kashmir Valley.
New Delhi: Afzal Guru, the accused in the 2001 Parliament attack has been hanged at 8 AM today. Afzal was alleged to be a terrorist of Jaish-e-Mohammad and was sentenced to death by Supreme Court in 2002.
Sushil Kumar Shinde, the home minister of India said, "The President of India Pranab Mukherjee rejected Guru’s mercy plea on February 03, 2013. And I signed the file on February 04 and forwarded that to the authorities."
Afzal Guru who hails from Sopore in north Kashmir was found guilty of killing nine people including security men and the officials of the Parliament.
It is alleged that Afzal was a terrorist of Jaish-e-Mohammad however the Supreme Court noted that there is no direct evidence of his involvement. The evidence was mainly circumstantial. All three courts, including Supreme Court, have acquitted him of charges under POTA of belonging to either a terrorist organisation or a terrorist gang. The court also noted that the evidence was fabricated. It is alleged on the government that it didn’t provide Afzal any worthwhile legal assistance to defend himself during his interrogation.
The curfew has been imposed in Kashmir valley after Guru’s hanging. The National Highway has also been closed to avert any trouble.