Will see mercy files of Afzal Guru after Parl session: Shinde

Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde will see files pertaining to mercy petitions of Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru and six others in death row after the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.

"It is not only (that of) Afzal Guru. I have seven files (of mercy pleas) to see. I will see the files after Parliament Session," he said on the sidelines of a function on Monday.

The Winter Session of the Parliament will conclude on December 20.

Guru's mercy petition was sent back by President Pranab Mukherjee to the Ministry of Home Affairs for review. He was sentenced to death for the 2001 Parliament attack in which nine people, including security force personnel, were killed and 16 were injured.

Addressing personnel of Border Security Force (BSF) on its 47th Raising Day function, Shinde praised the high standards of training in the force and said the government will ensure all possible help to further improve the skills and bring in technological advancements.

"I am aware of the fact that BSF personnel work in extremely difficult conditions and away from their families. The personnel deployed in anti-terrorist, anti-Naxal, disaster management, border management operations and United National Peace Keeping Missions. We have seen good results from all the fronts.

"I hope that BSF will further improve its techniques and skills to save the country and secure its border. The safety and security of country's border is very important and BSF personnel are doing their job in the best way," Shinde said.

The ceremonial parade on the occasion of force's 47th raising day had to be postponed from December 1 to today following the demise of former Prime Minister I K Gujral on November 30.

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