'26/11 attacks could have been averted if Afzal was hanged'

MUMBAI: Demanding the hanging of Afzal Guru, who was sentenced to death for his crime of Parliament attack in 2001, All India Anti-Terrorist Front (AIATF) Chairman M S Bitta said the Mumbai terror attacks could have been averted if Afzal was hanged.

"India should have sent a right message to our enemies by hanging Afzal Guru. Our enemies want to cripple the economy of our country," he said here today.

"As we have not yet initiated any stern steps against terrorism and have not hanged Afzal Guru, the terrorists have taken us for granted and went on targeting our cities," he said.

Critisising the government for seeking the custody of 21 terrorists from Pakistan, he said, "India should first hang the terrorist (Afzal Guru) who is in our custody and then think of taking custody of others."

Upset over the government's softened stand on Afzal Guru, the kin of martyrs, who were killed during the Parliament attacks, have returned the martyr medals to President, said Bitta. "The government is insulting the sacrifices of security forces by not reaching to a conclusion on the hanging of Afzal Guru," he added.

Stating that the government has wasted a lot of time after the Mumbai terror attacks, he said, "India should start discussions with United Nations Organisation, America and United Kingdom about the terrorism and start attacking on the terrorists' camps sponsored by Pakistan."

A white paper should be released on what steps the government is initiating to eradicate terrorism in the country, why Afzal was not hanged and what lapses led to terror attacks in the country, he said.