Death Sentence Upheld for Terrorist Who Attacked India’s Red Fort

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has upheld the death sentence for Afzal Guru, the man convicted of conspiring in the 2001 terror attack on Delhi’s historic Red Fort. President Pranab Mukherjee rejected Guru’s mercy plea, clearing the way for his execution. Guru, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir, was found guilty of providing logistical support to the five Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants who stormed the Red Fort on December 13, 2001, killing three soldiers and injuring 25 others. The attack sent shockwaves through India and raised concerns about the growing threat of terrorism. During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence that Guru had met with LeT operatives, arranged transportation for the militants, and provided them with weapons. Guru denied the charges, claiming that he was framed by the police. In 2002, a special court sentenced Guru to death. The conviction was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2005. Guru filed a mercy petition with the President, arguing that his death sentence should be commuted to life imprisonment on humanitarian grounds. However, President Mukherjee rejected the plea after a thorough examination of the case. The President’s decision is final and cannot be challenged in the courts. The execution of Afzal Guru is a significant development in the fight against terrorism in India. It sends a strong message that those who engage in acts of terrorism will face the full force of the law. The decision is also likely to have a deterrent effect on other potential terrorists. The Red Fort attack was a heinous crime that left a deep scar on the nation. The execution of Afzal Guru brings some measure of justice to the victims and their families.Pakistani National to Face Death Penalty in India for Red Fort Terrorist Attack

Pakistani National to Face Death Penalty in India for Red Fort Terrorist Attack

Mohammed Arif, a convicted Pakistani national, is set to be executed in India after President Droupadi Murmu rejected his mercy petition for his involvement in the deadly terrorist attack on the iconic Red Fort in 2000. A member of the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist group, Arif was sentenced to death in 2005. On May 27, 2023, Murmu rejected his mercy appeal, which had been filed on May 15. The attack, which occurred just before Christmas in December 2000, resulted in the deaths of three Indian army personnel guarding the Mughal-era fort. The terrorists entered the area and opened fire indiscriminately before escaping by scaling the fort’s walls. Indian police arrested Arif four days later. He was held in Delhi’s Tihar Jail and his mercy petition was initially rejected by lower Indian courts. The Supreme Court upheld the death sentence in November 2022, citing the severity of the attack and its threat to the country’s integrity. According to a former Indian civil servant, Arif disguised himself as an Indian resident from Jammu and was arrested in Delhi’s Ghazipur area. The Red Fort attack, he said, targeted one of India’s most important installations. The execution date has not yet been officially announced. The attack occurred shortly after the Indian government extended its ceasefire in Kashmir for a month. Pakistan declared a partial withdrawal of troops from the ceasefire line but dismissed the ceasefire as a tactic to conceal alleged violations in Kashmir. Lashkar-e-Taiba has been responsible for numerous attacks against Indian army installations in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir.