On December 13, 2001, the Indian Parliament attack was a terrorist attack on the Parliament of India in New Delhi,December 13, 2001. The perpetrators belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) – two Pakistan-raised terrorist organizations resulting in a 45-minute gun battle in nine police officers, and they also killed parliament staffer. The terrorists wearing commando dress entered Parliament in cars carrying Ministry sticker through the building’s VIP gate.
Five Delhi Police personnel, a woman Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper, and two Parliament Watch and Ward Staff died taking on the terrorists. A gardener and a photojournalist also died.
The incident led to a high level of tension between India and Pakistan and a massive upgrade in the Parliament’s security.
Within days, they arrested four people and charged as masterminds of the attack. The case against the four – Mohammed Afzal Guru, Shaukat Hussain, Afsan Guru, and SAR Geelani – went on for about a decade, with the Delhi High Court the Supreme Court eventually acquitting two and upholding the death sentence of one.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and also the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday paid tributes to those who lost their lives in the 2001 attack.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad also paid tributes on occasion.
“I pay my heartfelt tributes to the brave sons of Mother India who made the supreme sacrifice by taking on the enemies in the cowardly terrorist attack on the Parliament House, the temple of democracy, in 2001. A grateful nation will forever be indebted for your supreme sacrifice,” Shah tweeted in Hindi.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader LK Advani, the home minister, called the attack “the most audacious, and also the most alarming, the act of terrorism.”
Those present observed a moment of silence as a mark of respect for the martyrs. The day is also considered as the day of tragedy.
Written By Palak Thakur.