New Delhi: Amid growing demands for clemency for Mohammed Afzal Guru, facing execution for his role in the 2001 attack on Parliament, the kin of security personnel killed in the terrorist strike say they feel "cheated" by those seeking a pardon for him.
Sunder Singh Patel, the son of Delhi Police Head Constable Ghanshayam Patel who lost his life, said, "After seeing the support from human rights and political groups for a terrorist, we feel cheated."
"This is not what my father laid down his life for," said 27-year-old Sunder.
A shocked Awdesh Kumar, whose wife Kamlesh Kumari, a CRPF constable, was also killed in the attack, said, "He (Guru) was involved in the attack of Parliament. His role was established and the trial took place from a lower court to the Supreme Court. Now why all of a sudden, the human rights groups and political parties have started raising their voice?."
Kamlesh was awarded Ashok Chakra, the highest civilian award for bravery.
"I can't believe it when I see and read that even political parties and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad have been favouring clemency for Guru," Kumar told PTI over phone from Kanauj in Uuttar Pradesh.
He said that he felt proud that he was the husband of Kamlesh, but if clemency is granted, "I will regret that she wasted her life."
The 42-year-old Kumar, who has been single handedly raising his two daughters Jyoti and Shweta after Kamlesh was killed by militants on December 13, 2001, also wondered why so many human rights groups were seeking clemency for Guru.
"I simply wonder where they were when my wife was killed, leaving a daughter in my lap...crying," said an emotional Kumar, adding, "Today Mehbooba Mufti, a partner with Congress, is siding with him. I want to know did she ever bother about my daughter who became an indirect victim of the terrorists."
Somvati Devi, the widow of Patel who was awarded the Kirti Chakra, the second highest civilian award for bravery, said any move to grant clemency to Guru or convert his death sentence would be an insult to all the security personnel who laid down their lives for the nation.
Her elder son Bachhu Singh, said, "He (Guru) should be hanged publicly so that it would act as a deterent to all those who want to harm my country."
Kamlesh and Patel were among the nine persons who died while protecting the Parliament from the audacious attack of militants.
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