Home Ministry Yet to Decide on Afzal Guru’s Mercy Plea

Contrary to recent reports, the Home Ministry is yet to take a final decision on parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s mercy plea, said media reports.

According to latest reports, the Home Ministry sources have denied sending any recommendations to President Pratibha Patil on Afzal Guru’s mercy plea, reports said.

Guru has been convicted for plotting an audacious attack on Indian Parliament on December 13, 2001.

Five terrorists had attacked Parliament House in the Winter session, killing seven security personnel, before being shot dead.

Days later, the police arrested Mohammad Afzal, a resident of Sopore in Kashmir.

In 2002, a sessions court found him guilty and sentenced him to death and the High Court later upheld the sentence, which was finally maintained by the Supreme Court in 2004.

The execution was set for October 2006, but his wife appealed for mercy. Afzal has been on death row since.

The Delhi government had recently sent its recommendation to the Home Ministry that Afzal Guru’s mercy plea be rejected, after having sat on the file for nearly four years.

The death sentence awarded to Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab in the Mumbai attacks case brought the issue under fresh focus.

(Based on internet reports)