Parliament attack mastermind Guru hanged

In a swift but secretive operation, Mohammed Afzal Guru, the alleged mastermind of the 2001 Parliament attack, was hanged at 8 am in Tihar Jail here this morning. The decision was taken after President Pranab Mukherjee rejected his mercy petition on February 3.

After Ajmal Kasab, accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case, was hanged in November, this was the second such execution towards the fag end of the United Progressive Alliance rule in its second term. Soon after the President’s decision, senior home ministry officials had met to discuss the execution and steps to maintain law-and-order situation, especially in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Delhi.

Home Secretary R K Singh said Guru’s family members was informed about the decision through speed post and the J&K police chief was asked to verify if they received the post.

Five armed Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists had attacked an in-session Parliament on December 13, 2001, and killed nine people, before being shot.

Guru’s death sentence had met with stiff opposition from human rights activists, who alleged he was not given a fair trial. “The hanging shows a worrying trend. We oppose death penalty in all circumstances as an irreversible, inhumane punishment,” said Human Rights Watch in a statement.