Afzal Guru - II

The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) condemns the hanging of Afzal Guru in Tihar Jail on 9 February 2013. The tearing hurry with which Afzal Guru was hanged, accompanied by the flouting of all established norms by not giving his family their legal right to meet him before taking him to the gallows, clearly indicates that there were political considerations behind taking this step. More shameful is the explanation of the Ministry of Home Affairs that the wife and family of Afzal Guru were intimated of the hanging by a mail sent by Speed Post and registered post.

The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) condemns the hanging of Afzal Guru in Tihar Jail on 9 February 2013. The tearing hurry with which Afzal Guru was hanged, accompanied by the flouting of all established norms by not giving his family their legal right to meet him before taking him to the gallows, clearly indicates that there were political considerations behind taking this step. More shameful is the explanation of the Ministry of Home Affairs that the wife and family of Afzal Guru were intimated of the hanging by a mail sent by Speed Post and registered post. Decency and humanity demanded that the union government give prior intimation to the family and an opportunity to meet him. Such a surreptitious action of the government also deprived the family of Afzal Guru the right to seek legal remedy.

PUCL also condemns the repressive stand of the Delhi police in not allowing a group of people who were protesting against the hanging and detaining them in police stations. We are equally concerned by reports that right-wing goons were permitted by the police to use violence against the protestors. PUCL asserts the right of citizens to dissent and express their opposition to capital punishment in a peaceful manner.