Hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru wrong, says Shashi Tharoor

Srinagar: In remarks that could trigger controversy, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday said that 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s hanging was wrong and badly handled.

“I think the hanging was both wrong and badly handled,” Mr Tharror tweeted. He also said, “His (Guru’s) family should have been given a last meeting and body returned.”

Afzal Guru was hanged on February 9, 2013 inside Tihar Jail.

Mr. Tharoor’s statement would be seen as embarrassment for his own party, which was in power at the Centre when Guru was sent to gallows. This comes close on the heels of five Congress MLAs from Jammu and Kashmir in a joint statement admitting to Guru’s hanging as a “mistake.”

Congress distanced itself from Mr Tharoor’s remarks. “Due process of law was followed. The Supreme Court convicted him and the execution was the culmination of the judicial process. In no way, any law was contravened,” party spokesman Ajoy Kumar said.

Meanwhile, a local youth was killed and another injured when police opened fire to quell a protest in Palhalan township of north-western Baramulla di-strict as Kashmir Valley observed a shut down on Monday to mark the second death anniversary of Afzal Guru. Locals said that the protesters were demanding that the mortal remains of Guru be returned so that they are offered “decent burial” in his home state.