Politics

2001 Parliament Attack Timeline: Legal and Political Arc

Five gunmen attacked India's Parliament on 13 December 2001; of four accused, only Afzal Guru's death sentence survived appeal, and he was hanged in 2013.

Swipe to explore ›
AiTimeline Home
13 DEC 2001

Gunmen at Parliament

Five armed men drove in with a forged Home Ministry sticker. A 30-minute gun battle followed.

AiTimeline Home
13 DECEMBER 2001

Thirty Minutes

How the attack unfolded, per the Supreme Court.

AiTimeline Home
15 DEC 2001

Four Arrests

Police arrested S.A.R. Geelani and Afsan Guru in Delhi, and Afzal and Shaukat Guru in Srinagar.

AiTimeline Home
DEC 2001

Operation Parakram

India began its largest military mobilisation since 1971. Pakistan mobilised in response.

AiTimeline Home
12 JAN 2002

Musharraf Bans Two Groups

Pakistan's President banned Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba in a national address.

AiTimeline Home
14 MAY 2002

Charge-Sheet Filed

Police charged four people. Jaish-e-Mohammed leaders were named as proclaimed offenders.

AiTimeline Home
THE POLITICAL ARC

Operation Parakram

Ten months on the brink, 2001-2002.

AiTimeline Home
16 OCT 2002

Troops Pulled Back

India ordered troops back from the international border, ending the standoff without war.

AiTimeline Home
18 DEC 2002

Three Death Sentences

Judge S.N. Dhingra sentenced Afzal Guru, Shaukat Guru and S.A.R. Geelani to death.

AiTimeline Home
29 OCT 2003

Two Acquitted

The High Court acquitted Geelani and Afsan Guru. It confirmed death for Afzal and Shaukat.

AiTimeline Home
21 SEP 2004

POTA Repealed

An ordinance repealed POTA. A saving clause kept the Parliament attack appeals alive.

AiTimeline Home
SECURITY VS LIBERTY

POTA and the Case

The law the trial ran under, and its repeal.

AiTimeline Home
4 AUG 2005

Supreme Court Verdict

Afzal Guru's death sentence was upheld. Shaukat Guru got ten years; two acquittals stood.

AiTimeline Home
THE LEGAL ARC

Four Accused, Four Outcomes

What each court decided.

AiTimeline Home
3 OCT 2006

A Mercy Petition

Afzal Guru's wife and mother asked President Kalam to commute the sentence.

AiTimeline Home
12 JAN 2007

Last Court Remedy Ends

The court dismissed Afzal Guru's curative petition, after a review was rejected in 2005.

AiTimeline Home
THE COURT JOURNEY

From Trial to Last Remedy

Every stage of the case in court.

AiTimeline Home
DEC 2010

Shaukat Guru Released

Shaukat Hussain Guru walked free about a year early, after remission.

AiTimeline Home
3 FEB 2013

Plea Rejected

President Pranab Mukherjee rejected the mercy petition after six years.

AiTimeline Home
9 FEB 2013

Afzal Guru Hanged

Afzal Guru was hanged and buried inside the jail. His family said they were told too late.

AiTimeline Home
THE MERCY PLEA

Six Years to a Decision

From warrant to execution, 2006-2013.

AiTimeline Home
24 OCT 2019

Geelani Dies

S.A.R. Geelani, sentenced to death in 2002 and acquitted in 2003, died of a heart attack.

AiTimeline Home
13 DEC 2023

A Breach on the Anniversary

Two men jumped into the Lok Sabha with smoke canisters, 22 years to the day.

AiTimeline Home

Want the full timeline?

Read the complete story, FAQs and key facts.

AiTimeline Home