Debate death penalty in House: Kalam

President A P J Abdul Kalam today said the issue of death penalty and mercy petitions should be debated in Parliament and a comprehensive po...

President A P J Abdul Kalam today said the issue of death penalty and mercy petitions should be debated in Parliament and a comprehensive policy formed.

The President had sparked a debate on the issue of pardon to death row inmates when he sent a communication to the Home Ministry—first reported in The Indian Express—listing the 20 pending mercy pleas with him and asking for a compassionate view to be taken.

Today, replying to a question after the swearing in of Wajahat Habibullah as Chief Information Officer, President Kalam said, ‘‘All aspects (of the death penalty issue) should be discussed in Parliament and a comprehensive policy laid down.’’

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Ministry officials are learnt to have started compiling data and details of the pending cases.

Nine injured in firing

Ahmedabad: Nine people were injured when members of two groups of the same community opened fire at each other today in Surendranagar district, sources said, adding the firing occurred when people of the Darbar community clashed over a land dispute in Jinjuvad village. —PTI