President Droupadi Murmu has once again rejected the mercy plea of Mohammed Arif, the Pakistani terrorist convicted for the Red Fort attack 24 years ago. This marks the second time his mercy plea has been turned down by the President after taking office in July 2022. In November 2022, the Supreme Court upheld his death sentence, citing no mitigating circumstances in his favor. The Red Fort attack in December 2000 resulted in the deaths of three army personnel, posing a direct threat to India’s unity and sovereignty. Arif, a member of Lashkar-e-Taiba, was arrested days after the attack and found guilty of conspiracy in 2005, subsequently sentenced to death. Despite multiple appeals and petitions, including curative measures, Arif’s mercy plea was denied, highlighting the severity of the crime. The rejection of his plea underscores President Murmu’s firm stance on heinous crimes, emphasizing the importance of national security and justice.
