Mercy plea of Khalistan terrorist on death row rejected
May 26th, 2011 - 10:44 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, May 26 (IANS) President Prathiba Patil Thursday rejected the mercy petition of Devender Singh Bhullar, a Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) terrorist sentenced to death in 2001 for triggering a car bomb that killed 12 people and injured 29, including former Youth Congress leader M.S. Bitta.
According to top government sources, the president rejected the death row prisoner’s petition and the “report has been sent to the home ministry”.
This is the second case in which the president has rejected a mercy petition, the source said.
Four months ago, President Patil rejected the mercy petition of M.N. Das.
Das was convicted of having murdered a person when on bail. His petition was pending since Oct 21, 2010. He is currently lodged in the Guwahati central jail.
However, Bhullar’s case is the oldest. He was convicted in 2001 and his mercy petition was pending with the president since January 2003.
Bhullar was the mastermind of an attack on Bitta in front of 5, Raisina Road office of the Youth Congress Sep 11, 1993.
The daring RDX blast in the heart of New Delhi had shocked the nation and prompted Bitta to set up the Anti-Terrorist Front.
Bhullar was sentenced to death Aug 25, 2001. The Supreme Court dismissed his special leave petition Dec 27, 2006.
He was deported back to India from Germany in 1995 and has been lodged in the high security ward in the Tihar Jail.
Sikh communities and human rights activists were running a campaign asking that his mercy petition be accepted.
The president’s rejection of Bhullar’s mercy plea comes after the Supreme Court Monday expressed “surprise” over the eight-year delay in disposal of the mercy plea of Bhullar.
The court said it wanted to examine the delay on part of the government.
- President rejects mercy plea of Khalistan terrorist on death row (Second Lead) - May 27, 2011
- Bitta condemns Akali Dal, Congress over Bhullar - May 31, 2011
- Mercy plea of Khalistan terrorist on death row rejected (Lead) - May 26, 2011
- SGPC sets up panel to save Bhullar - May 30, 2011
- EU opposes death to Bhullar, writes to Chidambaram - Jun 17, 2011
- Sikhs protest at Indian embassy in Berlin to save Bhullar - Jun 20, 2011
- Akali Dal wants PM to intervene in Bhullar case - May 29, 2011
- 'Save Bhullar' campaign picking up in Punjab - Jun 22, 2011
- Apex court seeks details of mercy pleas decided in 2011 (Lead) - Apr 10, 2012
- Apex court calls for files of 18 mercy pleas (Lead) - Apr 03, 2012
- Sikh rally at UN for Bhullar's clemency - Jul 26, 2011
- Apex court seeks time frame for deciding mercy pleas - Apr 19, 2012
- Mentally ill can't be hanged, Bhullar tells apex court - Nov 09, 2011
- Delay on Bhullar's mercy plea no cruelty, apex court told - Oct 19, 2011
- Supreme Court to hear Rajiv killers' plea Oct 19 - Oct 11, 2011
Tags: car bomb, central jail, congress leader, death row prisoner, devender, four months, government sources, high security, home ministry, human rights activists, liberation, mastermind, mercy petition, New Delhi, plea, prathiba patil, rejection, sep 11, tihar jail, youth congress