As it happened: Afzal Guru to be buried in Tihar Jail itself

Afzal Guru hanged, curfew in Kashmir

Guru hanged at 8am today in tihar jail

Home minister to address a press conference on the hanging in half an hour, says Union home secy RK Singh.

BJP welcomes the government decision to hang Guru calling it "a much awaited decision", the party national spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.

Lesson and message for those involved in terrorism that law will catch up: Prakash Jawadekar

Afzal Guru was informed 5am on Saturday morning.

At 7am Guru's blood pressure was cheked, and process of hanging stared at 7:30am. At, 8am he was pronounced dead.

Afzal to be buried in the jail itself in accordance with the rituals, says Union home secretary RK Singh.

Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde begins his press conference in the capital.

Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, while confirming the hanging of 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, on Saturday said his mercy plea was rejected by President Pranab Mukherjee on February 3. "I signed the file the very next day," added Shinde.

"Afzal Guru's case was sent to President of India after he assumed office. And he had sent me few cases for re-consideration. Afzal Guru's case was already recommended by the home ministry earlier in 2011. I examined (his case) in detail, it took me some time, but I recommended to President of India on January 21 that that the plea be rejected," Shinde told media here.

" And the file came to me from the President of India on 3rd, on 4th I signed and was sent for further execution to the department. The procedure was followed and the date was confirmed by the judicial officer on 8th, the time was also confirmed. And today at 8 am, he was hanged," he added

Shinde took over as the country's Home Minister on July 31 last year.