Fast-tracking Judicial Murder

The Kasab verdict adds fuel to the clamour for Afzal Guru's hanging
Akash Bisht Delhi

If a senior Congress leader is to be believed, Afzal Guru's case is set to expedite the hanging of other convicts on death row. This, he says, will be done to avoid any controversy that could escalate tensions across the country, especially in Jammu and Kashmir. Afzal is the lone convict in the December 13, 2001 Parliament attack case. He was awarded death sentence by the Supreme Court (SC) later. 
The case came into prominence after Afzal's mercy petition suddenly rose from the ashes and was shuttling between Sheila Dikshit and Delhi's lieutenant governor (LG). Things heated up after the LG decided to send the file back to the Delhi government for further clarifications. 

Afzal's case stands at number 22 in the list of a total of 28 convicts on death row. Home Minister P Chidambaram had said earlier that all convicts will be treated alike and the rule book can't be changed for a single case. But the clamour to hang Afzal gained momentum after a trial court awarded death penalty to Ajmal Kasab for carrying out the Mumbai carnage.

Sources reveal that there are sections within the Congress party who want to put the matter to rest by hanging Afzal in order to discourage others from rebelling against the State. Hardnews learnt that Afzal could be hanged within six to eight months. 
Moreover, the Delhi CM says she stands by the SC verdict and has no objections to the hanging of Afzal. 

Several human right activists have claimed that Afzal was not given a fair trial. People's Democratic Party too had demanded clemency for Afzal after protests in the valley against the decision of the apex court. To defer violent protests in the valley, the government may decide to bury Afzal in Tihar itself.