On December 13, 2001, the Lok Sabha was adjourned around 11.15 am -- almost 45 minutes before scheduled lunch break -- because of Congress-led Opposition’s refusal to let the Parliament function till Defence Minister George Fernandes resigns over his alleged involvement in coffin scam.
At 11.45 am, just as the parliamentarians were preparing to leave, a white Ambassador with Parliament and Union home ministry stickers entered the compound and was asked to stop at Gate 12 for routine security check. Instead of stopping, five heavily armed terrorists –in Delhi police uniforms -- opened fire and tried to enter the main building, but the car rammed into Vice President Krishna Kant’s car parked nearby. The terrorists, armed with AK-47s and hand grenades, were reportedly wearing suicide vests.
A pitched gun battle ensued between the five terrorists and security personnel. The five gunmen tried to enter the main building from Gate 1 (entrance for MPs), Gate 5 (entrance for Prime Minister) and Gate 12 (entrance for the vice-president).
Several Cabinet ministers and about 200 MPs, plus visitors and mediapersons, were believed to be in the complex when the attack broke out. Home Minister Advani and other senior ministers were moved to a secure location within the Parliament complex. The army was called in. Black Cat commandos and police personnel were rushed to the spot. All entry and exit points were sealed and security forces were engaged in a lockdown and mop-up operation. Security was enhanced at the residences of the prime minister, home minister and the leader of the Opposition.
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Leader of Opposition Sonia Gandhi had already left.
While none of the parliamentarians got hurt, one of the terrorists came dangerously close to Vice President Krishan Kant’s office and fired at the door.Kant was saved by the intervention of a parliamentary security officer who chased away the attacker but was killed in the process.
“I heard a cracker-like sound near the entrance, then I saw people running helter-skelter,” MP Kharbala Sain said in an interview after the attack.
“I saw many people firing at the same time. I couldn’t make out who was who. I couldn’t understand who the terrorists were and who the police were. My mind went blank,” he said.
According to witnesses, one of the gunmen blew himself up in an apparent suicide attack. After 30 minutes of gun battle and grenade attacks, all the five terrorists were gunned down.
Two hours after the attack, a bomb found inside the parliament compound was controlled detonated.
Shortly after the attack, the prime minister appeared on television to announce that he and all his ministers were safe.
“This was not just an attack on the building, it was a warning to the entire nation. We accept the challenge,” Vajpayee said. “We have been fighting terrorism for the past two decades,” he said. “The fight is in the last stages. It will be a do and die battle.”
The terrorists had gunned down nine -- five Delhi Police personnel (Nanak Chand, Rampal, Om Prakash, Bijender Singh and Ghanshyam), a CRPF woman constable (kamlesh Kumar), two Parliament security attendants (Jagdish Prasad Yadav and Mutbar Singh Negi) and a gardener (Deshraj), and injured 23.
Two years later, ANI lensman Vikram Bisht, who was hit by a bullet during the attack, succumbed to his injuries.
The attack triggered extensive investigations and revealed possible involvement of Jaish e-Mohammad. After the conclusion of investigation, four accused Afzal Guru, Navjot Sandhu aka Afsan, Shaukat Hussain and suspended Delhi University lecturer SAR Geelani were booked under Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA).
Afzal Guru, Shaukat Hussain and SAR Gilani were convicted and sentenced to death by the special POTA court, while Afsan was let of with a minor sentence. On appeal, the Delhi HC subsequently acquitted Geelani and Afsan, but upheld Shaukat’s and Afzal’s death sentence.
In its judgment on August 5, 2005, the Supreme Court admitted that the evidence against Afzal was only circumstantial, and that there was no evidence that he belonged to any terrorist group or organisation. “The incident, which resulted in heavy casualties, had shaken the entire nation,” it said, “and the collective conscience of the society will only be satisfied if capital punishment is awarded to the offender.”
The SC uupheld the acquittals of Geelani and Asan, and reduced Shaukat’s punishment to 10 years.
Afzal met Ghazi Baba -- the main conspirator in Parliament attack case --twice in Srinagar. He facilitated entry of all five terrorists in the Capital and arranged three separate hideouts for them.
He procured a motorcycle; a white ambassador car and explosives used in the Parliament attack and helped in fake Parliament stickers.
Jt CP, Special Cell Karnal Singh said, “If Afzal would not have been there it was not possible for bombers to come and settle in Delhi. The local person was required to carry out the attack.”
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