Afzal Guru hanging code-named Operation Three Star

New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) The execution of Afzal Guru was conducted under a secret code name given by the Tihar Jail authorities, officials at the jail said.

“The code name of the operation was Operation Three Star,” officials told IANS.

The preparation to hang Guru was started immediately after the home ministry cleared the file Feb 4.

In four days, a hangman was called and arrangements were made to hang Guru near his solitary cell in jail number 3.

“Very few officers were told about the decision. The three doctors and a maulvi, who performed his last rites, were informed secretly a night before. They were asked to come early Saturday morning.

An official said, the motive of giving a secret code name to this operation was just to prevent word of the impending hanging from getting around.

“Guru was informed a day before he was hanged. He had his dinner and slept for the night. He woke around 5 a.m.,” an official said, on condition of anonymity.

Guru performed his morning prayers and also read few pages of the Holy Quran. He was calm, and greeted officials on the morning of his execution. He knew many of the officials by their first name.

Soon after his death was confirmed by the doctor, his body was buried near his cell.

Afzal Guru had been convicted of plotting the attack on parliament that occurred Dec 12, 2002, and sentenced to death.

—Indo-Asian New Service

aks/ros/dg

IANS 2013-02-11 19:30:01