A young and enthusiastic Kashmiri…. Dream of becoming a doctor blossoming in his heart …. An aura of commotion in the valley….And everything in his life took a new turn.... The politically instability and turbulence in Kashmir took hold of him. He was in the first year of MBBS when he left the course and became a member of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). And his dream was slaughtered in the name of Jihad. With the broken dream in his eyes Afzal started walking at a very fast pace on the path from where it becomes difficult to find a way back home.
Mohammed Afzal Guru was born in 1969, in the family of Habibullah in Aabgah village. It’s a village near Sopore town in Baramulla district of Jammmu and Kashmir. With the demise of his father at a very young age, his elder brother Aizaz brought him up foreseeing a doctor in Afzal. His schooling was from a Government School in Sopore. Passing the Matriculation exam in 1986 and completing his higher secondary education in Sopore, he joined a medical college.
13 December 2001, is an unforgettable day for every Indian. The robust prestige of India capsized in a jiffy on that day. Five gunmen intruded into the high profile secured premises of the Indian Parliament and opened fire. The incident sent a shiver down the spine of the whole nation. Near about 100 MPs were present in the building when firing was taking place but, no one was injured. The attack claimed 12 lives, including the five militants who were killed and injured 18 people. Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists were blamed for their involvement in the attack. It had been 12 years from then, time elapsed but, wounds are still green.
The 2001 Parliament attack stimulated vigorous investigations into the case and brought to the fore name of the key accused and the mastermind behind the whole plot- Afzal Guru. He was convicted of planning the whole plot and providing support to the Pakistani terrorists. Guru availed them the vehicle for the attack, shelter, and explosives along with RS. 10 lakhs were found from his house. His aide Shaukat Hussain Guru, Afshan Guru (Shaukat’s wife) and SAR Geelani were also found guilty of being a part of the plot. Afzal was nabbed by Delhi Police on 15 December 2001 from J & K. and sent to 10 days police remand on 29 December 2001. Charges were set against the four in June 2002 and all except Afshan guru were given a death sentence on 18 December 2002. On an appeal to the Delhi High Court, in October 2003, the order was held back. But, after looking into the matter and finding the charges against Afzal correct, the appeal was dismissed. In August 2005, even the Supreme Court gave its approval on sentencing Afzal to death penalty. It was in October 2006, when his wife Tabasum Guru filed a mercy petition to then President of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. And in June 2007, SC rejected the mercy plea.
Finally after the eight long excruciating years of waiting, came 9 February 2013. The day when the book named Afzal Guru reached its last page and brought a new dawn for many lives after the gloomy nights. It was like jubilation in the entire country. For the kins of the victims of the Parliament attack this day was no more less than Diwali. They were relishing the decision of the Government. But, why this decision was not taken on time? What made the Government to wait for so long to arrive at this decision? What was holding it back till now, even when Supreme Court gave a clear decision in this case? And once when even the mercy plea was declined by the SC then why did the matter kept shuttling in between and reached Pranab Mukherjee until he finally snubbed it?
Even after the persistent demand by the BJP of hanging of the main conspirator of the Parliament attack, there was no effect on the Government. The demand was just falling on deaf ears. For the last eight years the government which was not able to reach to a final conclusion and was dragging the issue long. Today, that very same government suddenly is so proactive and had quickened its steps towards practical decision making. Rejecting so many mercy pleas by Pranab Mukherjee, execution of Ajmal Kasab followed by Afzal Guru, forces you read between the lines. Is it a foul politics being played in pretext of these works to increase the vote banks in the upcoming 2014 General elections or is it to shield the big scams and malpractices which came in the limelight before the public? Did the government save these big cards to win a losing game at the right time or it has awakened from the deep slumber and wants to work out of its comfort zone? It could be a mere political stunt or setting of a strong lesson for the other terrorists to refrain themselves from perturbing India’s peace and harmony because it’s high time now to keep testing our patience.
It’s said that the justice delayed, is justice. But, in a country like India where just getting justice only is a big thing there, all is well, that end is well.
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