View source for 2001 Indian Parliament attack

{{distinguish|2023 Indian Parliament breach}}
{{Short description|Islamic terrorist attack in New Delhi}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox terrorist attack
| image            = Sansad_Bhavan-2.jpg{{!}}border
| title            = 2001 Indian Parliament attack
| location         = [[New Delhi]], [[Delhi]], [[India]]
| target           = [[Old Parliament House, New Delhi|Parliament Building]]
| date             = 13 December 2001
| coordinates      = {{Coord|28.6172|77.2081|region:IN_type:event|display=it}}
| time             = 
| timezone         = [[UTC+05:30]]
| type             = [[Mass shooting]]
| weapons          = [[AK-47]] rifles, [[pistol]]s, [[grenade launcher]]s, [[hand grenade]]s, [[explosive belt]]
| fatalities       = 14 (including 5 [[terrorism in India|terrorists]])
| injuries         = 18
| perps            = [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]]<ref name="China Daily">{{cite news |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-08/31/content_259902.htm |title=Mastermind killed |work=[[China Daily]] |date=2003-08-31 | access-date=8 September 2011 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
}}
{{Terrorist attacks in India (since 2001)}}

The '''2001 Indian Parliament attack''' was a [[terrorism in India|terrorist]] attack on the [[Parliament of India]] in [[New Delhi]], [[India]] on 13 December 2001. The attack was carried out by five [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]] terrorists that resulted in the deaths of six [[Delhi Police]] personnel, two [[Parliament Security Service]] personnel, and a gardener. All five terrorists were killed by security forces.

Indian authorities accused [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] (LeT) and [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]] (JeM) – two terrorist groups operating from Pakistan – of perpetrating the attack;<ref name=demarche>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/dec/14parl12.htm |title=Govt blames LeT for Parliament attack |website=[[Rediff.com]] |date=14 December 2001 |access-date=8 September 2011}}</ref><ref name="indianembassy.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.indianembassy.org/new/parliament_dec_13_01.htm |title=Terrorist Attack on the Parliament of India |date=2001-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611152203/http://www.indianembassy.org/new/parliament_dec_13_01.htm |archive-date=2010-06-11 |publisher=Embassy of India – Washington DC |access-date=2018-12-12 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref> however, LeT denied involvement.

The incident led to increased tensions between India and Pakistan, resulting in the [[2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff]].

==Attack==
On 13 December 2001, five [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]] terrorists drove into the House of Parliament in a car with [[Minister for Home Affairs (India)|Home Ministry]] and [[Parliament of India|Parliament]] labels.<ref name="dec14rediff">{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/dec/13parl14.htm |title=The terrorists had the home ministry and special Parliament label |website=Rediff.com India |date=13 December 2001}}</ref> While both the [[Rajya Sabha]] and [[Lok Sabha]] had been adjourned 40&nbsp;minutes prior to the incident, many members of parliament (MPs) and [[government of India|government]] officials such as Home Minister [[LK Advani]] and [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of State for Defence]] [[Harin Pathak]] were believed to have still been in the building at the time of the attack.<ref name="rediff1">{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/dec/13parl1.htm |title=Terrorists attack Parliament; five intruders, six cops killed |website=Rediff.com |date=13 December 2001}}</ref> More than 100 people, including major politicians, were inside the parliament building at the time. The gunmen used a fake identity sticker on the car they drove and thus easily breached the security deployed around the parliamentary complex.<ref name="suicide1" /> The terrorists carried [[AK-47]] rifles, [[grenade launcher]]s, [[pistol]]s and [[grenade]]s.<ref name="vishnu">{{cite news |last1=Vishnu |first1=J T |title=ISI supervised Parliament attack Main coordinator of Jaish, two others arrested |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20011217/main1.htm |access-date=23 October 2014 |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |date=17 December 2001}}</ref>

The gunmen drove their vehicle into the car of the [[Indian Vice President]] [[Krishan Kant]] (who was in the building at the time), got out, and began shooting. The Vice President's guards and security personnel shot back at the attackers and then started closing the gates of the compound. A similar attack was carried out on the [[2001 Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly car bombing|assembly of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir]], in October 2001, killing 38 people.<ref name="suicide1" />

Constable [[Kamlesh Kumari]] of the [[Central Reserve Police Force]] was the first to spot the militants and was shot by them as she raised the alarm. She died on the spot. One gunman's [[suicide vest]] exploded when he was shot dead; the other four gunmen were also killed. The ministers and [[Member of Parliament (India)|MPs]] escaped unhurt. The total number of people killed by the attackers was 9 and at least 17 other people were injured in the attack.<ref name="suicide1">{{cite news |title=2001: Suicide attack on Indian parliament |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/13/newsid_3695000/3695057.stm |access-date=23 October 2014|work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref><ref name="remember">{{cite news |author=PTI |title=Parliament attack victims remembered |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/parliament-attack-victims-remembered/article2711970.ece |access-date=23 October 2014 |work=The Hindu |date=13 December 2011}}</ref>

==Perpetrators==
Delhi Police stated that, five terrorists carried out the attack and the names given by them were: Hamza, Haider alias Tufail, Rana, Raja and Mohammed – who were members of [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]] and were killed.<ref name=vishnu/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.india.com/news/india/pm-modi-pays-homage-to-the-2001-parliament-attack-martyrs-key-points-about-the-heinous-attack-1704511/ |website=India.com |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]] |title=PM Modi pays homage to the 2001 Parliament attack martyrs: Key points about the heinous attack |date=16 December 2016 |access-date=5 January 2018 |quote=The names of the terrorists given by Delhi Police were Hamza, Haider alias Tufail, Rana, Ranvijay and Mohammed.}}</ref><ref name=kaur>{{cite magazine |last1=Kaur |first1=Naunidhi |title=Conviction in Parliament attack case |url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1926/stories/20030103005713300.htm |access-date=23 October 2014 |magazine=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]] |issue=23 |volume=19 |date=21 December 2002}}</ref>

One of the terrorist killed had earlier also taken part in the hijacking of [[Indian Airlines Flight 814]].<ref>{{citenews|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/ic814-victim-rupin-katyal-gets-justice-hijacker-ibrahim-killed-in-karachi-101646712210813.html|title=IC-814 victim Rupin Katyal gets justice, hijacker Ibrahim killed in Karachi|date= 8 March 2022|publisher = Hindustan Times}}</ref>

Delhi Police officials said that the gunmen had received instructions from Pakistan and the operation had been carried out under the guidance of Pakistan's [[Inter-Services Intelligence]] (ISI).<ref name="vishnu" /> In their book ''The Exile: The Flight of Osama bin Laden'', Cathy Scott-Clark and [[Adrian Levy]] state that then-[[List of CIA station chiefs|CIA station chief]] [[Robert Grenier (CIA)|Robert Grenier]] and [[United States Ambassador to Pakistan|Ambassador]] [[Wendy Chamberlin]] suspected that the ISI had approved the attack in order to force the redeployment of troops under the command of [[Ali Jan Aurakzai]] away from the [[Durand Line]], allowing [[Osama bin Laden]] to escape into Pakistan during the [[Battle of Tora Bora]].<ref name="LevyScott-Clark2017">{{cite book |last1=Levy |first1=Adrian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uHG9DAAAQBAJ |title=The Exile: The Flight of Osama bin Laden |last2=Scott-Clark |first2=Catherine |date=23 May 2017 |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing]] |isbn=978-1-4088-5878-3 |pages=77–78}}</ref>

==Trial==
Following the attack, many suspects were arrested, and in December 2002 four [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]] terrorists were convicted for roles in the attack.<ref name="4 convicted in attack" /> In 2003, the [[Border Security Force]] (BSF) eliminated [[Ghazi Baba]], the commander-in-chief of Jaish-e-Mohammed and the mastermind of the attack, in the Noor Bagh neighborhood of [[Srinagar]], Jammu and Kashmir.<ref name="China Daily" />

The attack triggered extensive investigations, which revealed the involvement of four accused, namely [[Afzal Guru|Mohammad  Afzal Guru]], his cousin Shaukat Hussain Guru, Syed Abdul Rahman Geelani<ref>{{cite web |title= Syed Abdul Rahman Geelani, ex-DU professor acquitted by SC in 2001 Parliament attack case, dies of cardiac arrest in Delhi |website= Firstpost |agency= [[Press Trust of India]] |date= October 25, 2019 |accessdate= June 7, 2022 |url= https://www.firstpost.com/india/syed-abdul-rahman-geelani-ex-du-professor-acquitted-by-sc-in-2001-parliament-attack-case-dies-of-cardiac-arrest-in-delhi-7551861.html}}</ref> (also spelled "Gilani"), and Shaukat Guru's wife Afsan Guru (maiden name: Navjot Sandhu). Some other proclaimed offenders were said to be the leaders of the banned terrorist organization known as [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]]. After the conclusion of investigation, investigating agency filed the report under Section 173 of [[Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (India)]] against four accused persons on 14 May 2002. Charges were framed under various sections of [[Indian Penal Code]] (IPC), the [[Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002]] (POTA), and the Explosive Substances Act by the designated sessions Court.

The designated Special Court was presided over by S. N. Dhingra. The accused were tried and the trial concluded within a record period of about six months.{{when|date=February 2020}} 80 witnesses were examined for the prosecution and 10 witnesses were examined on behalf of the accused S.A.R. Geelani. About 300 documents were exhibited. Afzal Guru, Shaukat Hussain and S.A.R. Geelani were convicted for the offences under Sections 121, 121A, 122, Section 120B read with Sections 302 & 307 read with Section 120B of IPC, sub-Sections (2), (3) and (5) of Section 3 and Section 4(b) of POTA and Sections 3 and 4 of Explosive Substances Act. The accused 1 and 2 were also convicted under Section 3(4) of POTA.<ref name="State 2005">{{cite court |litigants=State ( N.C.T. of Delhi ) vs. Navjot Sandhu alias Afsan |court=Supreme Court of India |date=8 August 2005}}</ref>

Accused 4, namely Navjot Sandhu a.k.a. Afsan, was acquitted of all the charges except the one under Section 123 IPC for which she was convicted and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for five years and to pay a fine. [[capital punishment in India|Death sentences]] were imposed on the other three accused for the offences under Section 302 read with Section 120B IPC and Section 3(2) of POTA. They were also sentenced to life imprisonment on as many as eight counts under the provisions of IPC, POTA and Explosive Substances Act in addition to varying amounts of fine. The amount of a million Indian rupees, which was recovered from the possession of two of the accused, namely, Afzal Guru and Shaukat Hussain, was forfeited to the State under Section 6 of the POTA.<ref name="State 2005"/>

On appeal, the high court subsequently acquitted S. A. R. Geelani and Afsan, but upheld Shaukat's and Afzal's death sentence. Geelani was represented by [[Ram Jethmalani]] in the [[Delhi High Court]] and subsequently in the [[Supreme Court of India]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Ram Jethmalani: A look at his most famous cases|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ram-jethmalani-a-look-at-his-most-famous-cases/story-oo0WbuIFPZ7kJtovkmoyRM.html|date=2019-09-08|work=Hindustan Times |access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref> Jethmalani said it almost cost him his political career for defending Geelani.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Defending Geelani almost cost me my political career: Jethmalani |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Defending-Geelani-almost-cost-me-my-political-career-Jethmalani/articleshow/10836788.cms |first=Dhananjay |last=Mahapatra |date=23 November 2011|website=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2020-05-30 }}</ref> Geelani's acquittal blew a gaping hole in the prosecution's version of the parliament attack.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-10-24 |title=Former DU professor SAR Geelani who was convicted and later acquitted in Parliament attack case dies |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/former-du-professor-sar-geelani-who-was-convicted-and-later-acquitted-in-parliament-attack-case-dies/articleshow/71745985.cms |access-date=2024-12-13 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> He was presented as the mastermind of the entire attack.{{cn|date=February 2020}} Geelani, a young lecturer at [[Delhi University]], received support from his outraged colleagues and friends, who were certain that he had been framed.{{cn|date=February 2020}} They contacted the well-known lawyer Nandita Haksar and asked her to take on his case.{{cn|date=February 2020}}

Afzal Guru, sentenced to death by Indian court and due to be hanged on 20 October 2006, had his execution stayed. His family had camped in New Delhi to meet the [[President of India|President]] [[Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam]] to accept the mercy petition. The family of [[Kamlesh Kumari]] Yadav, a [[Central Reserve Police Force|CRPF]] [[Private (rank)#India and Pakistan|Jawan]] who died in the attack has said that they would return the [[Ashok Chakra Award|Ashok Chakra]], if the president accepted the petition, and on 13 December 2006, the families of the deceased returned the medals to the government. As of April 2007, the then President of India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, refused to interfere in the judicial process.<ref>{{cite news |last=Vinay |first=Kumar |date=30 April 2007 |title=Kalam: law will take its course in Afzal case |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/30/stories/2007043005720100.htm |access-date=3 March 2009}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The sentence was scheduled to be carried out on 20 October 2006, but Afzal was given a stay of execution and remained on death row. On 3 February 2013, his mercy petition was rejected by the then [[President of India|President]] [[Pranab Mukherjee]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Gupta |first=Smita |date=13 February 2016 |title=The role of Pranab Mukherjee in Afzal Guru's hanging |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-role-of-pranab-mukherjee-in-afzal-gurus-hanging/article4397765.ece |access-date=5 January 2018 |quote=Though Afzal Guru’s mercy petition file came to Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 4, 2011 (when Ms. Patil was in office), Mr. Mukherjee, after taking charge, sent the file back on November 15, 2012 to the Home Ministry for a fresh look. The Home Ministry returned the file to the President on January 23 this year, and he sent it back, rejecting the petition, on February 3, paving the way for Saturday’s execution.}}</ref> He was hanged in Delhi's Tihar Jail at 8:00 A.M.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Roy |first1=Rajesh |title=Indian Parliament Attack Planner Hanged |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324590904578292910964921342}}</ref> on 9 February 2013, and buried in Tihar jail with full religious rites.<ref>{{cite news |author=Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar |date=13 June 2016 |title=In Tihar, officials feel 'tinge of sorrow' |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/in-tihar-officials-feel-tinge-of-sorrow/article4400897.ece |access-date=5 January 2018 |quote=Thereafter Afzal’s body was taken down from the gallows and buried with full religious rites near Jail No. 3, right next to the grave of Kashmiri separatist Maqbool Butt who too was hanged in Tihar.}}</ref>

Shaukat Hussain was released nine months prior to his scheduled date of release on account of his good conduct.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 February 2013 |title=All you need to know about the 2001 Parliament attack |url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-2001-parliament-attack-619622.html |access-date=12 October 2014 |work=Firstpost}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Roy |first=Arundhati |date=15 December 2006 |title=India's Shame |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/dec/15/india.kashmir |access-date=12 October 2014}}</ref>

Two Delhi Police officials, [[Assistant commissioner of police|ACP]] Rajbir Singh<ref name=":0">{{cite news |date=2008-03-26 |title=Encounter specialist killed by his own gun |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/Encounter-specialist-killed-by-his-own-gun/article15191479.ece |access-date=2018-12-12 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> and [[Mohan Chand Sharma]] are credited for gathering [[prima facie]] evidence in the case. Singh was later shot dead by a friend over a property deal<ref name=":0" /> and Sharma was killed during the [[Batla House encounter case|Batla House encounter]] with militants in Delhi.<ref>{{cite court|litigants=State vs Mohd. Afzal And Ors.|court=Delhi High Court|date=29 October 2003|url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1031426/|access-date=12 December 2018}}</ref>

==Response==
{{Main|2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff}}
The Indian Government initially accused [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] and [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]] of involvement in the attack. However, Lashkar-e-Taiba denied any involvement in the incident.<ref name="demarche" /><ref name="indianembassy.org" /> In November 2002, four JeM members were arrested by Indian authorities and put on trial.<ref name="kaur" /> All four were found guilty of playing various roles in the incident, although the fourth, Afsan/Navjot Sandhu, wife of Shaukat Hussain (one of the accused) was found guilty of a minor charge of concealing knowledge of conspiracy.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/2003/10/30/stories/2003103007840100.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |quote=Ms. Guru (formerly Ms. Navjot Sandhu) had been sentenced to five-years rigorous imprisonment on the lesser charge of concealing knowledge of the conspiracy. |title=Geelani, Afsan Guru acquitted in Parliament attack case |first=Anjali |last=Mody |date=30 October 2003 |access-date=5 January 2018}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> One of the accused, [[Afzal Guru]], was sentenced to death for the incident.<ref name="4 convicted in attack">{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/2002/12/17/stories/2002121705260100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030404232535/http://www.thehindu.com/2002/12/17/stories/2002121705260100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 April 2003 |title=4 convicted in attack |date=17 December 2002 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=8 September 2011}}</ref>

World leaders and leaders in India's [[South Asia|immediate neighbourhood]] condemned the attack on the Parliament. On 14 December, the ruling [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA) blamed Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed for the attack. Home Minister LK Advani claimed, "We have received some clues about yesterday's incident, which shows that a neighbouring country, and some terrorist organisations active there behind it",<ref name="advanipakclues">{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/dec/14parl21.htm |title=Parliament attack: Advani points towards neighbouring country |website=Rediff.com |date=14 December 2001}}</ref> in an indirect reference to Pakistan and Pakistan-based militants groups.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/parl-attacks-proved-terrorism-biggest-threat-to-democracy-advani-154780.html |title=Parl attacks proved terrorism biggest threat to democracy: Advani |website=Firstpost |date=13 December 2011 |access-date=5 January 2018 |quote=Home Minister LK Advani made an indirect reference to Pakistan, saying that "clues" following the attack showed that "a neighbouring country, and some terrorist organisations active there behind" the attack.}}</ref>

The same day, in a ''[[demarche]]'' to Pakistani [[High Commissioner]] to India, [[Ashraf Jehangir Qazi]], India demanded that Pakistan stop the activities of LeT and JeM, that Pakistan apprehend the organisations' leaders and that Pakistan curb the financial assets and the groups' access to these assets.<ref name="demarche" /> In response to the Indian government's statements, [[Pakistani Army|Pakistani forces]] were put on high alert the same day. On 20 December, India mobilised and deployed its troops to Kashmir and Punjab in what was India's largest military mobilisation since the [[1971 Indo-Pakistani War]].

==In popular culture== 
[[Special OPS]]: The 2020 Indian action espionage thriller web series from [[Hotstar Specials]] created and directed by [[Neeraj Pandey]] and starring [[Kay Kay Menon]] in the lead role was based on the attacks. In 2022, another movie was released called [[Attack: Part 1]] was also partially based on the attacks.

==See also==
{{Portal|India}}
* [[List of Islamist terrorist attacks]]
* [[List of terrorist incidents in India]]
*[[List of attacks on legislatures]]
* [[Islamic terrorism]]
* [[Pakistan and state terrorism]]
* [[2001 Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly car bombing]]
* [[2014 shootings at Parliament Hill, Ottawa|2014 shootings at Parliament Hill]], a similar attack that occurred in Ottawa, Canada
* [[2017 Tehran attacks]], which included an attack on the Iranian Parliament by gunmen and suicide bombers.
* [[2021 storming of the United States Capitol]]
* [[2023 Indian Parliament breach]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{youtube|Vt3G71Ce0cM|2001 Indian Parliament attack video}}
* [http://www.indianexpress.com/news/parliament-attack-why-didnt-the-bomb-explode--afzal-guru-wonders/848307/ Parliament attack: Why didn't the bomb explode? Afzal Guru wonders]
* [http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/1827942/report-book-review-the-strange-case-of-the-attack-on-the-indian-parliament Book review: The Strange Case of the Attack on the Indian Parliament]
* [http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/unanswered-questions-are-the-remains-of-the-day/article4397789.ece Unanswered questions are the remains of the day]
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Indian Parliament attack, 2001}}
[[Category:2001 in international relations]]
[[Category:2001 in Indian politics]]
[[Category:2001 mass shootings in Asia]]
[[Category:Grenade attacks in India]]
[[Category:2000s in Delhi]]
[[Category:2001 murders in India]]
[[Category:2000s trials]]
[[Category:21st-century mass murder in India]]
[[Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 2001]]
[[Category:Attacks on legislatures in India]]
[[Category:December 2001 crimes in Asia]]
[[Category:December 2001 in India]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorism in India]]
[[Category:India–Pakistan relations|2001 Parliament attack]]
[[Category:Mass murder in 2001]]
[[Category:Mass shootings in India]]
[[Category:Murder in Delhi]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorist incidents in 2001]]
[[Category:Murder trials]]
[[Category:Parliament of India|2001 attack]]
[[Category:Suicide bombings in 2001]]
[[Category:Suicide bombings in India]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in India in 2001|Parliament attack]]
[[Category:Trials in India|2001 Parliament attack]]
[[Category:Military history of Delhi]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents attributed to Pakistani jihadist groups]]