New Delhi: The nation yesterday paid homage to the martyrs of the Parliament House terrorist strike ten years ago that led to a flare-up on the India-Pakistan borders, while families of the victims demanded expeditious execution of Afzal Guru, the surviving conspirator sentenced to death for the audacious crime.

"Until the time Afzal Guru is hanged, there will be no honour for the martyrs in the parliament attack. When the Supreme Court of India has given a death penalty to Afzal Guru, why has he not been brought to book," asked 23-year-old Bipin Adana, the son of Delhi Police head constable Vijendra Singh, who was killed in the terror attack.

"For all the families who lost their dear ones, the main issue is Guru. Why is the traitor not being punished? This is really sad," said Adana, who runs a petrol pump allotted to him by the government as compensation for having lost his father at a young age.

"When my mother died, I was very young and I hadn't even known my mother that well. Afzal, the person who killed my mother, hasn't been hanged yet, even though the Supreme Court has given the orders. I want him to be hanged as soon as possible," said the daughter of Kamlesh Kumari, a woman constable with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), who perished in the attack.

On December 13, 2001, just around 11am when the two houses of parliament assembled for the day's sitting, five heavily armed gunmen posing as security men stormed the Parliament House and indiscriminately fired, killing nine people instantly.

Gunned down

The victims included five Delhi Police personnel, a female Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper, two parliament staff and a gardener. A journalist who was also shot died later. All five terrorists were eventually gunned down.

A year after the attack the four accused, including Afzal Guru, were found guilty by Indian courts. Guru, who is said to be a Jaish-e-Mohammad militant, was the only accused to be awarded the death penalty. His mercy petition is pending with the president.

The home ministry has about a year ago recommended to the president that the mercy plea of Afzal Guru be rejected.

The attack led to an escalation of conflict between India and Pakistan, as New Delhi was convinced the terror strike had been masterminded in the country.