Afzal Guru hanged in Tihar; Kashmir under curfew

After 26/11 attack convict Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was hanged in a top-secret operation on Saturday morning.

Afzal Guru, who was convicted of plotting the 2001 terror attack on the Indian Parliament, was hanged at 8 am inside Delhi’s Tihar Jail, confirmed Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Home Secretary RK Singh.

Meanwhile, curfew has been imposed around Tihar Jail and in several parts of Kashmir. All the police stations in New Delhi were put on high alert, police sources said.

Speaking to reporters, Singh said the situation isn’t sensitive anywhere “but we have taken precautions regarding security”.

Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson Venu Rajamony has confirmed that the mercy plea of the Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist was rejected by President Pranab Mukherjee a few days ago, paving the way for his hanging.

According to Singh, the President rejected Afzal Guru’s mercy petition on February 03.

Formal announcement will be made by Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde shortly.

According to Zee News’ sources, Afzal Guru will be buried inside Tihar Jail only.

Guru was convicted of conspiracy in the December 2001 attack on Parliament and was sentenced to death by the Supreme Court in 2004.

On December 13, 2001, five heavily-armed gunmen stormed the Parliament complex and opened indiscriminate fire, killing nine persons.

They included five Delhi Police personnel, a woman Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) official, two Parliament watch and ward staff and a gardener.

A journalist, who was injured, died later. All five terrorists were shot dead.

Guru was arrested within hours after the attack from a bus in the national capital.

Five days before the fourth anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the lone captured Kasab was not only hanged till death at the Yerwada Central Prison but also buried there.

–PTI