New Delhi: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has stated that he does not believe in the “death penalty” and that the execution of Afzal Guru, convicted for the 2001 Parliament attack, served no purpose.
In an interview with news agency ANI, National Conference leader Abdullah said, “The Jammu and Kashmir government had no role in Afzal Guru’s execution.”
He clarified, “Otherwise, state government approval would have been necessary for the execution, which I can tell you with complete clarity was not obtained.”
Abdullah remarked, “We do not support it. I don’t think the execution served any purpose.”
When asked if he believes in the death penalty, Abdullah responded, “No, because I do not trust the infallibility of courts.”
He added, “Evidence has repeatedly shown that even if not in India, in other countries, people have been executed only to later discover that they were innocent.”
Afzal Guru, one of the main conspirators behind the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, was executed in 2013 at Tihar Jail. He was found guilty of plotting the December 2001 attack that resulted in the deaths of six security personnel and one civilian.
He spent nine years awaiting execution as the government hesitated to make a final decision on his mercy petition. This was partly due to legal efforts by Guru’s family to obtain relief and the government’s reluctance to carry out the execution.
Omar Abdullah’s statement comes just before the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. Voting in Jammu and Kashmir will take place in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1, with counting scheduled for October 8.
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