Anti-Terrorist Front chairman MS Bitta today demanded setting up of an anti-terrorist military court, saying it would help deal with the menace of terror and also prevent political interference in the execution of death sentence awarded to terrorists.
"Like America, India should set up an anti-terrorist military court to deal with terrorism... Such a court should be given all the powers," Bitta, who is on a visit to the city to meet July 13 bomb blast victims and their families told PTI.
After the death sentence is awarded to a terrorist, he or his family approaches the government and the president seeking mercy, he said.
"The policy of hearing mercy pleas of terrorists should not be allowed after setting up of anti-terror court. This will help prevent political interference in execution of death sentence to terrorists," he said.
Bitta, who visited July 13 bomb blasts sites at Zaveri Bazaar and Opera House, met some of the injured at Saifee hospital and kin of the deceased.
The former Youth Congress leader said that terrorists, Ajmal Kasab, Afzal Guru and Davinder Singh Bhullar, awarded death penalty, should have been hanged by now.
"Now a case is being made out that Bhullar is mentally unwell, which is not correct. The Supreme Court has sought reports from Centre and Delhi government on the health of Bhullar and their opinion on whether he should be hanged. What will the government say if a terrorist is mentally ill. It may ultimately not agree to execute the sentence," he feared.
"Similarly, Kasab and Afzal Guru may also say they are not mentally well," he said.
Bhullar is a Khalistan Liberation Force militant who is facing gallows for a 1993 car bomb attack on Bitta that killed 12 people. Afzal Guru was sentenced to death in the December 2001 attack on Indian Parliament, while Kasab was awarded death penalty for his role in 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
