NEW DELHI: Families of security personnel killed in the 2001 attack on Parliament on Tuesday approached President APJ Abdul Kalam, requesting him not to grant pardon to Mohammed Afzal Guru, who has been sentenced to death by Supreme Court.
The families, led by Chairman of Anti-Terrorist Front MS Bitta, submitted a memorandum to the President's office, stating that any clemency shown to a dreaded terrorist like Afzal would encourage other anti-national elements.
"A terrorist of his stature does not invite any pardon who exhibit no humanly concern while committing the heinous crime against humanity," the memorandum said.
The families who submitted memorandum to Kalam included Jayawati, widow of Delhi Police Constable Bijender Singh, Bimla Devi, widow of Delhi Police Head Constable Om Prakash, Bacchu Singh, son of Delhi Police Head Constable Ghyansham Patel and Karamveer, son of Delhi Police Sub-Inspector Rampal.
"It is ironical to observe that even after years of being convicted for their ghastly and inhuman crimes, the terrorists have managed to escape gallows... mostly due to the support raised by some political parties and social groups... who influence the justice system flowing in right direction," the memorandum said.
Afzal is getting a lot of support from political parties who were trying hard to save him from gallows for vote bank politics, it said.
The affected families, while requesting not to show mercy, expressed hope that the faith of those affected by terrorism in the judicial system would be maintained if hardcore terrorist like Afzal is shown no mercy.
