New Delhi, Dec 13 (Inditop.com) Indian political leaders Sunday paid tributes to those who were killed in the terror attack on parliament eight years ago that almost sparked off an India-Pakistan war.
Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and several MPs paid floral tributes to the nine people who were killed at a solemn ceremony in the Parliament House premises.
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar was also present.
Five heavily armed gunmen said to be Pakistanis — Islamabad denies the charge — stormed parliament and opened indiscriminate fire, killing nine people instantly on Dec 13, 2001.
The victims included five Delhi Police personnel, a woman constable of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), two parliament security attendants and a gardener. A journalist who was injured died later. All five terrorists were shot dead.
A year later four terrorists, including convicted Afzal Guru, were arrested for the attack and found guilty after trial.
Guru, who is said to be a Jaish-e-Mohammed militant, was the only accused to be awarded the death penalty. The sentence has been stayed as his mercy petition is pending. He is in Delhi’s Tihar Jail.
