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October 21, 2006

Amritsar: Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) protestors conducted a mock hanging of Mohammad Afzal Guru, the man convicted for his role in December 13, 2001 Parliament attack.

Afzal was due to be hanged at 6 a.m. on Friday at a Tihar Jail in New Delhi. Shouting slogans against several leaders from Jammu and Kashmir who have sought clemency for Afzal, the protestors said the terrorists warranted no mercy.

"The law should be the same for all people irrespective of their caste or religion or the region. Our mock hanging today is a tribute to those who sacrificed their life in the Parliament attack. There should be no mercy for a person like Afzal and those supporting him are traitors. We are warning those who are thinking of giving him clemency that this is in fact a terrorism which is sponsored by Pakistan," said Satpal Dogra, President of the RSS (Amritsar).

Under Indian law, the President can pardon people sentenced to die, but in the past, not many mercy petitions have been granted.

Afzal's death sentence has initiated a national debate after a Delhi court fixed October 20 as the date for his execution. However, Afzal's execution has been suspended, as his clemency plea is under consideration.

On December 13, 2001 at around 11.45 am, terrorists entered Parliament House at gate number 12 breaching the security and started indiscriminate firing from AK-47 rifles and hurled grenades, killing six Delhi policemen and a Parliament employee. Five terrorists were also killed in the shootout.

India blamed the attack on the Jaish-e-Mohammed militant group, which it said was backed by Pakistan. Pakistan denied its involvement in the attack.

The Supreme Court handed down a ten-year prison sentence to Shaukat Hussain and acquitted S A R Geelani and Afzal Guru.