Indian President commutes death sentence of 2 to life in prison

President Patil

President Pratibha Patil has commuted the death sentence of 2 murder convicts of Uttar Pradesh to life in prison. "The mercy petition of convicts, namely, Sattan and Guddu of Uttar Pradesh was considered under Article 72 of the Constitution and their death sentences were commuted to imprisonment for life for the remainder of their natural lives," Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters here today. Both sattan and Guddu have been on death row since 2009.

They murdered 6 members of a family and a trial court sentenced four accused to death. But the High Court overturned the sentence awarded to 2.

In 2009, the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence to Sattan and Guddu. Asked about the status of the Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru, whose mercy petition was also pending before the President, Chidambaram said, "I can't share with you any information about any mercy petition until the President decides on the mercy petition". "Whatever decision is taken, it will be shared with you," he said.

Source: PTI, August 1, 2011

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