"Justice has prevailed for the families of those who lost their lives in the 1993 Mumbai blasts," Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said today on the Supreme Court ruling that came shortly before Yakub Memon was hanged today.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has taken note of the execution of 1993 Mumbai serial blasts convict Yakub Memon while emphasising that he stands against the death penalty, his spokesperson said today.

JUST IN: A fire has broken out in Kolkata's New Market. The fire broke out around 9 pm in the flower section of the New Market. Ten fire engines have been rushed to the spot. 

The records related to Subhas Chandra Bose's mysterious disappearance are not being disclosed as they might have been lost, eaten up or disintegrated, first Chief Information Commissioner of the country Wajahat Habibullah. 

A mild tremor hit Nepal's hilly district situated in the east of Kathmandu. The 4.5-magnitude aftershock was recorded by the National Seismological Centre with the epicenter at Dolakha district. A total numbers of 365 aftershocks with four or more magnitude were recorded after the devastating earthquake of April.

India should implement a moratorium on death penalty, said DMK leader and Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi. Reacting to the hanging of 1993 Mumbai blast convict Yakub Memon, Kanimozhi said she would move a private member resolution and private member's bill in the Rajya Sabha to abolish death penalty. 

Landslides triggered by torrential rain in Nepal have swept through villages, killing at least 30 people close to the nation's most popular trekking circuit, home ministry officials have said. The landslides struck the villages near the resort town of Pokhara, 125 kilometres west of Kathmandu. In the village of Lumle about half of the homes were buried or destroyed by a torrent of mud and rocks.

If confirmed to be from missing flight MH370, could a small portion of plane wing be the clue investigators need to unlock one of aviation's biggest mysteries? 

Just in: Cyclone Komen makes landfall in Bangladesh. The storm has already claimed 27 lives in Bangladesh and Myanmar, reports the local media in Dhaka."

After landfall, it will move westnorthwestwards and weaken gradually,' the MeT said.

"Heavy to very heavy rainfall will occur at a few places with isolated extremely heavy falls over Gangetic West Bengal today and tomorrow," the Met office said.

Wind speed reaching 6575 kmph gusting to 85 kmph would prevail along and off West Bengal and north Odisha Coasts, it said.

Representation pic

A leading human rights organisation today renewed its call for India to abolish death penalty after it executed 1993 Mumbai blast convict Yakub Memon, saying there is no evidence that the "cruel" form of punishment acts as a deterrent.

Human Rights Watch said that India should adopt the message of Mahatma Gandhi that an "eye for an eye will make the whole world blind" as the practice of death penalty is "blinding the Indian Justice."

"So, why does India cling to capital punishment? Perhaps the government is afraid to be seen as soft in the face of horrific terrorist attacks or other crimes like the 2013 gang rape of a student in New Delhi. But the often professed goals for capital punishment '" deterrence, reformation, or justice '" hardly hold up to scrutiny," said Jayshree Bajoria, researcher in the Asia Division.

She said there is no conclusive evidence from India to show that the death penalty acts as a deterrent. "Capital punishment should also be rejected on the simple grounds it is irreversible...Plus, these death sentences are meted out by a criminal justice system known to be abusive, under-resourced, and in urgent need of reform," she added.

Following the death of Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar, the second round of peace talks between Afghan government representatives and the militant group which were to be held in Pakistan tomorrow has been postponed, it was announced today.

"In view of the reports regarding the death of Mullah Omar and the resulting uncertainty, and at the request of the Afghan Taliban leadership, the second round of the Afghan peace talks, which was scheduled to be held in Pakistan on July 31, 2015, is being postponed," Pakistan's Foreign Office said in a statement.

The second round of the landmark peace talks were set to be held in the hill resort of Murree where the first round was also held on July 7.

The statement said Pakistan and other friendly countries of Afghanistan hope that the Taliban leadership will stay engaged in the process of peace talks in order to promote a lasting peace in Afghanistan. "It is further hoped that those forces, which due to their malafide intent wanted to undermine the peace talks, will not succeed in their designs," it said.

The Afghan Taliban today confirmed the death of Omar, a day after it was announced by the Afghan government.

Rajat Chauhan ensured India a medal by making the final of the compound section, while Laxmirani Majhi advanced to the bronze playoff in the women's recurve in the World Archery Championships, here today.

The 2014 Asian Games team gold medalist thrashed Camilo Cardona of Colombia 143-138 in a one-sided contest to set up a clash against local challenger Stephen Hansen in the final which will be held Saturday.

Laxmirani gave India a second medal hope in the individual section as she will take on Misun Choi of Korea in the bronze medal play-off in re-curve.

After her teammate and former world number one Deepika Kumari crashed out in the first match of the day, Laxmirani kept the Indian flag high.

She secured a straight set win over Kristine Esebua of Georgia in the fourth round before upsetting fifth seed Alejandra Valencia of Mexico in a tense quarterfinal shoot off which she clinched 9-8.

However top seed Shih-Chia Lin of Taipei denied Laxmirani a final berth by securing 6-4 win in a hard-fought battle. Locked 2-2 after second set, Lin shot a bull's eye in the third to clinch it 28-26 and open up a decisive 4-2 lead which saw her through as she levelled the next two.

Just in: Pakistan troops again open fire on forward posts along the Line of Control in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier in the day, an Army jawan was killed in a sniper attack by Pakistan troops who targeted forward posts in Poonch district of in violation of ceasefire. Sepoy Rachpal Singh was critically injured in sniper fire by Pakistani troops at a forward post in Poonch along the Line of Control on Wednesday night, a police officer said on Thursday.

He later succumbed to his injuries.

Hours after Yakub Memon was hanged this morning in a Nagpur jail, security has been added for the three judges who rejected his last-minute appeal in an unprecedented hearing that took place in the Supreme Court.

The three justices spent two hours starting at about 3 am weighing the new petition before they ruled they would not stop his execution at 7 am, reports NDTV. 

The judges said that Memon had ample time and opportunity to challenge his death sentence before  yesterday, and that he had exhausted all legal options available to a death row prisoner.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said her government was fully geared up to face any eventuality arising out of Cyclone 'Komen'.

Banerjee, who cut short her London visit and returned following the cyclone threat, expressed concern over the situation, saying that many parts of the state were waterlogged and crops damaged.

She said that high tides and storms lashing the state since yesterday compounded the situation but the administration was on a alert. Banerjee, who was closeted with Minister for Urban Development Firhad Hakim and senior officials shortly after her arrival, said around 26,000 people were sheltered in relief camps in various parts of south Bengal.

The CM was slated to return to the city on July 31. She said a control room with 1070 helpline number will work round-the-clock. Meanwhile, Governor K N Tripathi has expressed concern over the damage done by the cyclonic storm in some districts of the state. He directed Commissioner of Presidency Division besides District Magistrates of Nadia and North 24 Parganas to take immediate steps for providing relief and rehabilitation to the affected and send a report, a Raj Bhavan statement said.

Representation image

Just in: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi will visit Pune's Film and Television Institute of India tomorrow. He will meet students who have been protesting for over a month over the appointment of Bharatiya Janata Party man Gajendra Chauhan as the chairman of the prestigious institution.

There have been no classes at FTII for over 40 days.  

Yakub Memon has been buried at the Bada Kabaristan with Islamic rites at 5.20 pm.  

Read singer Abhijeet's vitriolic tweet for Prashant Bhushan last night?


After his infamous 'dog remark' during actor Salman Khan's hearing in the 2002 hit-and-run case, singer Abhijeet hit a new low with an abusive tweet targetting Prashant Bhushan for being part of a team of lawyers which had moved a late night petition seeking stay on Yakub Menon's hanging.


In a vitriolic tweet, Abhijeet posted, "Prashant bhushan ko fata hua sasta joota marunga (mine is costly) uski dead body par, Camera ready rakhna.' Bhushan was at the forefront of the campagin for staying Yakub Menon's hanging after his conviction in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case. 

No, not mourners for Yakub Memon, but for an exemplary Indian who was also laid to rest today in Rameswaram. 

This is what Amnesty international India chief and Rediff.com columnist Aakar Patel had to say about Yakub Memon's execution.


"This morning, the Indian government essentially killed a man in cold blood to show that killing is wrong,' said Aakar Patel, Executive Director, Amnesty International India. "This execution will not deliver justice for the 1993 Mumbai blasts. It is a misguided attempt to prevent terrorism, and a disappointing use of the criminal justice system as a tool for retribution.


"Indian authorities often find it convenient to hold up capital punishment as a symbol of their resolve to tackle crime, and choose to ignore more difficult and effective solutions like improving investigations, prosecutions and care for victims families."

Police bandobast near the two buildings in Mahim where the Memon family live. Pic: Sahil Salvi.


If you've been wondering why we don't have a single picture of Yakub Memon's flower-bedecked body here's why. The Mumbai police has imposed Section 144 which among other things, forbids any pictures of the corpse to be used either as a still photograph or a video.  

Just in: A medical team in Gujarat will terminate the pregnancy of 14-year-old rape survivor at 10 am tomorrow. The Supreme Court had held that she could be allowed an abortion unless it posed a great risk to her life, The Gujarat teenager had been refused permission by two lower courts to go forward with the abortion of her 23-weeks old foetus, even though it would seriously hamper her health if she remained pregnant.


Ruling that an abortion was legal if it was necessary to save her life, a Bench led by Chief Justice of India HL Dattu on Tuesday overruled the earlier decision by the trial court and Gujarat high court.


Representational picture.

Holding Yakub Memon's flower-bedecked coffin aloft, mourners inside the Bada Kabaristan. A second Janaaze ke Namaz, (prayers before a funeral), may be held now. The first namaz was said at the Mahim dargah attended by thousands of mourners.


Inside the Bada Kabristan community leaders requesting people to maintain calm.

A RAF contingent in Mumbai as the city stepped up security in the wake of Yakub Memon's execution. Pic: Sahil Salvi.

The origin of reality shows can be attributed to the fact that writers had run out of script ideas. To write a good script one has to be imaginative. Why bother? Why not just put a camera and not just peep but make a spectacle of people's lives, and if required death too.The tragic drama that was enacted live last night on television about Yakub Memon's hanging was a macabre reality show. Read

While some of Mumbai mourns for a terrorist, a moment for the victim.


The 1993 blasts not only robbed Sabiha Usmani of her right eye, but also threatened both her life and that of her unborn child. Both survived and now 22  years later she wants all the culprits to be brought to justice.  Read

Deputy head Mullah Akhtar to head the Taliban after Mullah Omar's death, say reports.

Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com walks the streets of Mahim, where Yakub Memon grew up and lived till the day before the serial blasts in 1993, on the day he was hanged, and discovers an undercurrent of unease and restrained anger. Read the column here.

Quick Response Teams of police, formed after the 26/11 terrorist attacks, were deployed at a many places across Mumbai especially communally sensitive areas. Police have made nearly 500 preventive detentions since Yakub Memon's execution order was confirmed. Pic: Sahil Salvi

Yakub Memon's body arrives at Bada Kabrastan at Marine Lines. The body is in an ambulance and is accompanied by four vehicles carrying family members as well as a huge contingent of police vehicles. On the way in from the Mumbai airport to his Mahim home the body was taken in a hearse. 

Security was stepped up across the city as this picture at CST shows.  Pic: Sahil Salvi. 

It was 'house full' at the Central Hall of Parliament today. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha had been adjourned up to 2 pm, which was probably why there was time enough for MPs to chat. Interestingly, Anurag Thakur of the BJP sat with Rajeev Shukla of the Congress. Jairam Ramesh butted in and jokingly said that when the two are together they only discuss IPL or BCCI. To this Thakur said that they wanted to convert IPL into BPL. Joining them in the banter were Deepender Singh Hooda and Gaurav Gogoi.


Interestingly, NCP chief Sharad Pawar was the only tall leader in the Central Hall who is seen in conversation with all MPs across political parties. His daughter Supirya Sule accompanied Pawar as he walked up to MP on each bench of the Central Hall. Praful Patel and Sule then sat in a corner where they were joined by BJP's Piyush Goyal and Ajay Sancheti and the language changed quickly to Marathi.


Then EAM Sushma Swaraj walked into the Central Hall and many BJP MPs went to her to touch her feet. Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman made an appearance at that point -- her first in nearly a year in Central Hall. She was seen talking to AIADMK MPs in Tamil.


The PM during his first council of ministers meeting mandated that junior ministers should not be seen in Central Hall as they have to attend their offices and not seen to be wasting time chatting or snacking in Parliament. The order has been followed, it seems. 

The ambulance carrying Yakub Memon's body outside the Bismillah building in Mahim. Pic: Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com.

The Janaaze ki Namaz for Yakub Memon at the Mahim dargah is over. The hearse carrying his body is now on its way to the Bada Kabaristan at Charni Road.

Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com reports that accompanying the hearse to the burial grounds will be a large contingent of police and the RAF. Security outside the Bada Kabaristan is already in place.


At least 20 PCR vans are accompanying the body. Some male members are believed to be in the hearse.  The Mumbai police put at least 35,000 men on the streets hours after the Supreme Court handed out the death warrant to Yakub last evening.


Mourners outside the Bismillah building where Yakub Memon's brother Suleman lives. Pic: Afsar Dayatar/Rediff.com.

Linking the Gurdaspur attack to Pakistan, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said the three terrorists had infiltrated from there to carry out the strike and asserted that the government will do everything possible to prevent cross-border terrorism. Read more

Women's day out in Mahim as people wait for a glimpse of Yakub Memon's body. Actually men outnumbered women on the streets of Mahim, most mourners, some voyeurs, as Memon's body was brought to his brother's home. The uneasy calm of the streets marked by a very heavy police presence was given a touch of normalcy by this woman with her cellphone. Pic: Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com.

Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com reporting from Mahim says there are thousands upon thousands of people on the streets. Yakub Memon's Janaaze ke Namaz, (prayers before a funeral), is being carried out now at the Mahim dargah.


Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria is stationed in Mahim as we write this report. This is Maria's second visit in Mahim today after he oversaw arrangements in the morning and spoke to his men, stationed in their hundreds, around the Memon residences -- the Bismillah and Al Hussaini buildings near the Mahim dargah.


Farooq Ansari (name changed) said he had taken a holiday today because he wanted to see Yakub Memon. "It's sad that he is no more. Yakub was innocent and they made him a scapegoat," said Ansari, who was in his a child when the 1993 Mumbai blasts occurred.


Yakub's body is still at the Bismillah building where his brother lives, but only family and friends are allowed a last glimpse.


Another resident, Aslam Sheikh (name changed, nobody is willing to reveal their identity) said he knew the Memon family. "Yakub's father was a gentleman, but I did not know Yakub personally. I'm shocked to see so many people turn up to say their farewells. I'm sure there will be even more people at the funeral at the Bada Kabaristan."


There is complete calm in Mahim despite the thousands who have come hoping for a glimpse of the man they consider a 'messiah'. The calm is not broken even by a single slogan hailing Yakub. In face, community leaders, informally patrolling the streets urge people over and over again not to raise slogans.


Shahid Quereshi confessed that nobody in the neighbourhood expected Yakub to hang. "We thought that his mercy petition would be accepted. The government wanted to prove a point and so he was executed.

"It's sad that his daughter [Jubeda] has only seen her father in jail. She was just five-days-old when she came back with Yakub to surrender and for 21 years that's all she has seen of him. The government should have allowed him to live."

From here, the body will be taken to the Bada Kabaristan in Marine Lines which has been closed to the public.


Picture: The Mahim dargah where prayers are being said for Yakub Memon. Pic: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com.

Google pays tribute to former President APJ Kalam with a black ribbon on their logo. Google has always honoured popular and famous leaders on their birth and death anniversaries with creative doodles.

Tight security in Mumbai since last night after the Supreme Court confirmed the death sentence of 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon. There will be at least 35,000 cops on the streets to ensure law and order prevails. Hundreds of plainclothes policemen will mingle in the crowd near Al Hussaini building, the residence of the Memon family near the Mahim police station, to monitor the situation. Stringent checks are also being carried out at several barricades in sensitive spots around the city.
This morning, Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria made a quick stopover at Mahim to oversee the arrangements.


Photograph. What have you got there? A cop frisks a man at Mahim near the Memon residence at Al Hussaini building.

Pic: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com.

Just in: Bomb scare at bus stand in Gurdaspur, which was attacked by terrorists on Monday. Police have cordoned off the area and a bomb squad has been called.

Photo: Mourners below the Bismillah building at Mahim where Yakub's brother Suleman stays. Pic: Pic: Afsar Dayatar/Rediff.com. Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf who spoke to people near the Al Hussaini building in Mahim where Yakub lived, said he was innocent and was a messiah.


Suleman was arrested with other members of the Memon family in 1994 and was accused of aiding and abetting terror acts. He was granted bail after few years of his arrest and ultimately acquitted for lack of evidence. Suleiman's wife Rubina was, however, was convicted by the TADA court and sentenced to life imprisonment, as a Maruti van used in the bomb blasts was registered in her name.

Just in: Funeral prayers for Yakub Memon will be held at Bada Kabrastan in Marine Lines. Yakub Memon's body has been taken to his brother Suleman's house in Bismillah Manzil, five minutes away from the Al Hussaini building, where Yakub used to stay.


Photograph: The Bismillah building where Yakub Memon's body has been taken. This is where his brother Suleman lives.
Pic: Afsar Dayatar/Rediff.com.

The tweets that have got the government's back up.


Digvijaya Singh on Yakub Memon's execution:

"Yakub Memon hanged. Exemplary urgency and commitment has been shown by Govt and Judiciary in punishing an accused of Terror .


"I hope similar commitment of Govt and Judiciary would be shown in all cases of Terror irrespective of their Caste Creed and Religion.


"I have my doubts the way the cases of other Terror accused are being conducted. Let's see. Credibility of the Govt and Judiciary is at stake.


"What a coincidence ! Funerals of Two Indian MuslIms on the same day. Dr Kalam who has made every Indian proud of his achievements for India.


"And Yakub Menon who has by being associated with those involved in terror  brought shame to the whole community."


And Shashi Tharoor's tweets:


"Saddened by news that our government has hanged a human being. State-sponsored killing diminishes us all by reducing us to murderers too.


"There is no evidence that death penalty serves as a deterrent: to the contrary in fact. All it does is exact retribution: unworthy of a Govt."

Just in: Yakub Memon's body has reached Mahim. A hearse carrying Memon's body left Mumbai airport towards the Mahim dargah, near his residence, the Al Hussaini building. Yakub Menon's family, including his Sulaiman and cousin Usman, who accompanied the body from Nagpur, are in the hearse.


In Nagpur, immediately after the post-mortem, Memon's body was wrapped in a 'Kafan' (shroud) and placed in a tightly sealed coffin. Later, the body was taken to the airport and flown to Mumbai. The mortal remains of Memon will be laid to rest in a cemetery at Marine Lines after the last prayer 'Namaj-e-Janaja' later today.

Here was an Indian like you and me, who reached the country's highest office without compromising on his integrity or values. Here was a politician who was not a Muslim, or Tamil, or a boatman's son -- but an Indian President, who opened his office to all Indians, says Sriram Karri.
Read his column on Rediff.com.

Sriram Karri, author of Autobiography Of A Mad Nation, pays tribute the man who inspired him to start writing.

Mumbai police issue order under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code forbidding photography of Yakub Memon's funeral. 

PM Modi offers condolences to the family of APJ Kalam. APJM Maraikayar (in the picture), the 99-year-old brother, is Dr Kalam's only surviving sibling. Their other three brothers and a sister had passed away earlier.

PM Modi accompanied by other VVIPs leave the burial ground. Mourners from Chennai, Bengaluru say Kalam touched their lives at a very personal level. A lot of people who came all the way but narrowly missed paying their respects in tears. The single emotion that stands out at the Rameswaram for Dr Kalam, is 'respect'.

Former President APJ Kalam laid to rest with full state honours. Family members offered special prayers before the burial amid a 21 gun salute.

That's Rahul Gandhi paying his respects a while ago. 

Gun salute as Dr Kalam's body is now taken off from the coffin and laid to rest. 

Tri-services personnel remove the national flag from the body of the former President and is handed to the airmen.  The former president is to be buried with full millitary honours. A few minutes ago, army, navy and air force personnel paid their last respects to the former President at the Pei Karumbu burial ground. After VVIPs pay their respects, it is now time for his former colleagues at DRDO, senior scientists who are paying their respects.

Meanwhile, Yakub Memon's body has reached Mumbai. 

Tri-services contingent in attendance at the funeral ground in Rameswaram.

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar, union minister Venkaiah Naidu (pictured), Congress VP Rahul Gandhi, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss pays their last respects.

A host of VVIPs paying their respects to Dr Kalam. Tamil Nadu Governor Rosaiah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and tri-services personnel salute the body of Kalam.

BJP MP Shahnawaz Hussain with Congress senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad say their prayers together before the body. Immediately after came Telangana CM Chandrababu Naidu. 

The former president is to be buried with full millitary honours. A few minutes ago, navy and air force personnel paid their last respects to the former President at the Pei Karumbu burial ground.

The mortal remains of former President A P J Abdul Kalam, who died on Monday, arrives at the burial ground in Rameswaram. His body was taken from his ancestral house to the local mosque ahead of the funeral as thousands of mourners -- young and old -- poured into the island town to pay their last respects.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and a host of other dignitaries, including and chief ministers of some states, will attend the last rites to be held around 11 am after 'Namaz-e-Janaza'.



The body of 83-year-old Kalam, who passed away in Shillong on Monday, was taken from the house around 9.30 AM to the mosque by the personnel of three services with the casket covered with traditional green shawl.


At the mosque, the Aalin or the chief priest would read out special prayer and speak about the former president, who grew up from this island. Later, it would be taken to the place of burial where prayers would be offered again.


The body of the "Missile Man" was brought to his house on the narrow Pallivasal Street around 10 pm last night after lying in state and left in the privacy of his family till this morning.


Thousands of mourners kept pouring through the night by various transport including buses, trains and boats to attend the last rites and many of them even slept on the roads last night.


Shops, business establishments and hotels remained shut in the town and throughout Tamil Nadu as a mark of respect to the late leader fondly called the "People's President".

Final journey of missile man. PM Modi pays homage before the glass-encased coffin of Dr Kalam. 

Back in Mahim, Mumbai, family and friends of Yakub Memon look at life after his death. Photograph: Afsar Dayatar/Rediff.com.

Dr Arun K Tiwari, who had a 34 year-long colourful, memorable association with the former President APJ Abdul Kalam, as his speech writer and the co-author of five books, spoke to Vaihayasi Pande Daniel/Rediff.com after reaching Rameswaram with the coffin.


"Just met Dr Kalam's 99-year-old brother APJ Marakayar. He held my hand in silence for many minutes. No words to describe the pain in his eyes. I gave him a rosary sent by Pramukh Swamiji [of the Bochasanvasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha] as parting gift to his friend Dr Kalam.


"Marakayar Sir kept looking at the rosary for many minutes and then said 'Let it be buried tomorrow with my brother'.

"In a few hours from now Sir's mortal remains will also vanish from our sight. May Dr Kalam's soul rest in peace and we all take his ideals forward in our lives."


Picture: Dr Arun Tiwari with APJ Kalam's brother APJ Marakayar

Also read: Did President Kalam have a premonition of his death?

Saisuresh Sivaswamy/Rediff.com reports from Rameswaram.


The Mohideen Aandavar mosque in Rameswaram had anticipated a crowd for APJ Abdul Kalam's Alvida Namaaz on Thursday. Still, it could not have expected the thousands of people, Muslim and Hindu, who thronged the narrow mohallas around the mosque.


Clearly, the security agencies did, what with the three service chiefs expected to be at the mosque to receive Kalam's mortal remains after the prayer. And put up barricades to regulate the crowds that had started gathering from early as 8 am.


At one point the situation looked uncontrollable, with the muezzin repeatedly appealing for silence and order.


The sight of so many Muslims in their skull caps, and Hindus with their head covered, offering prayer side by side on the streets best summed up Kalam's syncretic life and times.


All the noise, the melee, quitened down when the muezzin gave his cry to prayer. 'Allah hu Akbar, God is Great,' and the crowd roared back in acknowledgement.


It was a brief prayer, not longer than five minutes at best. The crowd peacefully repeating 'Ameen' after every verse.


Once the namaaz was over came the real problem. How to take Kalam's cortege outside, with crowds spilling out on to the access streets.


Once again the muezzin exhorted the crowds to give way, reminding them it was the house of God and to please disperse peacefully.


As the defence forces stepped out with the cortege, phones were whipped out for photos, the crowds roared 'Allah hu Akbar, 'Dr Kalam ki Jai'.


Finally the funeral procession moved outside, where thousands of people have lined up the road leading up to Kalam's final resting place to catch a final glimpse of the military truck as it rolls out.


Rameswaram has downed shutters today to enable the public to pay their respect to its legendary son. This will be one final farewell India will not see again in a long, long time.


Photograph: Dr Kalam's brother APJ Marakayar offers prayers at the mosque. Saisuresh Sivaswamy/Rediff.com

In Rameswaram, preparations for former President APJ Abdul Kalam's funeral begin even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves from the Madurai airport to Rameswaram.


An hour earlier, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi arrived at the Madurai Airport to board a chopper to Rameswaram. He was accompanied by senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad. Other VIPs heading to Rameswaram from Madurai were Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.


Dr Kalam's funeral is to be held at 11 am and will be laid to rest with full state honours.


Yesterday, the mortal remains of the former president were brought to his hometown of Rameswaram as a large number of people converged to get a last glimpse of the departed leader. The helicopter carrying Kalams body touched down at the specially laid helipad at nearby Mandapam around 4 pm.

Earlier, the body of the former president, who passed away on Monday, was brought to Madurai from New Delhi by a special aircraft. Draped in the tri-colour, Kalams body was taken by road in an army vehicle with people lining up on both sides of the 10-km stretch to take a glimpse and pay respects.

Around 2,000 police and security personnel have been deployed in the town for managing the situation. 

Picture: Saisuresh Sivaswamy/Rediff.com

The last wish of Yakub Memon before he was hanged was to meet his daughter. Reports say that Memon spoke to his daughter. 

Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com reporting from Mahim.

In Mahim, where the family of 1993 Mumbai serial blasts convict, Yakub Memom still stays, the mood is sombre and angry.


Last evening as the Supreme Court dismissed Yakub's plea, rejecting his argument that correct procedure was not followed in his case, police bandobast was stepped up in sensitive spots in Mumbai, especially in  Mahim.


This morning, outside the Al Hussaini building (Yellow building in the picture) the entire area was barricaded and hundreds of police personnel manned the streets, with PCR vans and contingents from the Rapid Action Force everywhere. '

Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria arrived at 9:45 am and said, "I'm here to look into the bandobast, not to talk to the press."


Residents speaking to this reporter told him not to take pictures. "If you want pictures of the building, why don't you Google it?," a man said.
Talking about Yakub Memon, another resident said, "The messiah has gone. He is the man who fought for Muslims and look what they have done to him! He is an innocent man punished by Rajnath Singh [Union Home Minister]. He had the chance to save him, but he intentionally hanged him. President Pranab Mukherjee did not want him to hang, but the government  insisted that Yakub should hang."

 
People, both men and women, stood in several large groups, near and around the Al Hussaini building. Many of them said they were waiting for Yakub's body to arrive in Mumbai from Nagpur so that they could be part of the janazaa (wake).

While there are no incidents of violence, the police are not taking any chances. The entire area has been barricaded with hundreds of policemen in bulletproof vests stations all around. The Billabong school near Yakub's home, and all the shops around the Makhdoom Ali Mahimi dargah are closed today.


Picture: The Al Hussaini building (tall building, top right of the frame) in Mahim. Courtesy: Syed Firdaus Ashraf.

Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria in Mahim. Picture: Syed Fidaus Ashraf.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi arrived at the Madurai Airport on Thursday morning to board a chopper to Rameswaram to attend former President APJ Abdul Kalam's last rites. Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad is accompanying Rahul Gandhi.


A high alert has been sounded along the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast in view of the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and other leaders to Rameswaram. Units of Navy and Coast Guard situated along the east coast, from Chennai to Tuticorin, have been fully activated.


The Tamil Nadu government has announced a public holiday today under the Negotiable Instruments Act on account of the funeral and educational institutions and government office will not function today.


People from across state are coming to Rameswaram since 6 am for the funeral. 

Security tightened at Nagpur airport; Joint CP , Additional CP and DIG CISF are supervising the arrangements. 

Rediff.com/Syed Firdaus Ashraf reports that shops and markets in Mahim, where Yakub Memon's family resides, are shut as a precautionary measure.


Read Syed Firdaus Ashraf's column: Is Yakub Memon innocent? I don't know

Criticising 1993 Mumbai terror attacks convict Yakub Memon's execution; the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Thursday said that Eye for an eye cannot be the philosophy of India's judicial prudence.


"This incident has brought the point effectively that our country should abolish death penalty. However, BJP's mind set is different. Eye for an eye cannot be the philosophy of India's judicial prudence. Time has come that we say an emphatic no to capital punishment in India," said CPI leader D. Raja.

Yakub Memon's execution was carried out about two hours after his lawyers last-gasp plea to get the death warrant stayed was dismissed by the Supreme Court in an unprecedented hearing that began in the early hours and ended at dawn. Here's how it happened.


11 AM (July 29) -- A 14-page mercy petition written by Memon is submitted to President Pranab Mukherjee's office.
4 PM (July 29) -- The President sends the mercy petition to Home ministry for necessary action.
8.30 PM -- Union Home Minister Rajnath drives to Rashtrapati Bhawan and conveys Government's decision rejecting Memon's mercy petition. 9.15 PM -- Union Home Secretary L C Goyal and Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar arrive at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
10.45 PM -- President rejects mercy petition of Memon.
10.45 PM -- noted lawyers Prashant Bushan and Anand Grover reach residence of Chief Justice of India Justice H L Dattu with a fresh petition seeking stay of death warrant.
11:30 PM -- Other judges arrive at Justice Dattu's residence.
01.00 AM (July 30) -- Scene shifts to residence of senior Supreme Court judge Justice Dipak Misra's residence.
01.30 AM -- Lawyers reach residence of Justice Misra.
01.35 AM -- Three judges - Justices Mishra, Prafulla Chandra Pant, Amitava Roy - agree to meet at Supreme Court at 2.30 AM.
02.10 AM - A constable of Nagpur Central Jail hands over a letter to Memon's brother at a hotel in Nagpur.
02.30 AM - Judges arrive in the apex court. Hearing deferred as delay in arrival of Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi.
03.20 AM - Hearing on the review petition begins.
04.50 AM - Court rejects the petition.
07:00 AM - Yakub Memon hanged.

Just in: One jawan killed in ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, say police.

Heavy security outside the Bada Kabristan (pictured), Marine Lines, where Yakub Memon is likely to be buried. No visitors allowed today. The police have reportedly refused permission to the family to take the body in a procession to the burial ground.

1993 Mumbai serial blasts convict, Yakub Abdul Razak Memon (53), was executed at Nagpur central prison this morning.

Mar 12, 1993: A series of 13 explosions rock Mumbai
resulting in 257 fatalities and injuries to 713 others.
Apr 19: Actor Sanjay Dutt (accused number 117) arrested.
Nov 4 : Over 10,000 page-long primary charge sheet filed
against 189 accused, including Dutt.
Nov 19: Case handed over to CBI.
Apr 1, 1994: TADA court shifted from city's sessions and
civil court to a separate building inside the premises of the
Arthur Road Central Jail.
Apr 10, 1995: 26 accused discharged by the TADA court.
Charges framed against the remaining accused.
Supreme Court discharges two more accused -- travel agent
Abu Asim Azmi (now Samajwadi Party Member of Parliament) and
Amjed Meher Baux.
Apr 19: Trial commences.
Apr-June: Charges framed against the accused.    June 30:
Two accused, Mohammed Jameel and Usman
Jhankanan, turn approvers in the case.
Oct 14: Dutt granted bail by the Supreme Court.
Mar 23, 1996: Judge J N Patel transfered and elevated as
a high court judge.
Mar 29: P D Kode designated as a special TADA judge for
the case.
Oct 2000: Examination of 684 prosecution witnesses ends.
Mar 9-July 18, 2001: Accused record their statements.
Aug 9: Prosecution begins arguments.
Oct 18: Prosecution completes arguments.
Nov 9: Defence starts arguments.
Aug 22, 2002: Defence closes arguments.
Feb 20, 2003: Dawood gang member Ejaz Pathan produced in court.
Mar 20, 2003: Mustafa Dossa's remand proceedings and trial separated.
Sept 2003: Trial ends. Court reserves Judgement.
June 13, 2006: Gangster Abu Salem's trial separated.
Aug 10: Judge P D Kode says judgement will be pronounced
on September 12.
Sept 12: Court starts delivering the judgement,
pronounces four members of the Memon family guilty, acquits
three. 12 convicts awarded death penalty while 20 were given
life sentence.
Nov 1, 2011: SC begins hearing on appeals filed by the
100 convicts as well as the state.
Aug 29, 2012: SC reserves its order on the appeals.
Mar 21, 2013: SC upholds death sentence of convict Yakub
Memon, brother of Tiger Memon, and commutes death sentence of
10 convicts to life term. Life imprisonment of 16 out of 18
convicts also upheld.
May 2014: President Pranab Mukherjee rejects Yakub's
mercy plea
Jun 2, 2014: SC stays Memon's execution on plea seeking review petitions in death cases to be heard in open court instead of chambers.
Apr 9, 2015: SC dismisses Memon's petition seeking review of death sentence which was upheld by apex court.
Jul 21, 2015: SC rejects Memon's curative petition, the last legal remedy to avoid execution of death sentence.
Jul 21, 2015: Hours after SC rejects Memon's petition, he files mercy plea to Maharashtra Governor.
Jul 23, 2015: Memon's moves SC with a petition seeking stay on his execution scheduled for July 30.
Jul 29, 2015: Supreme Court rejects Memon's plea for
staying execution, upholds dismissal of curative petition.
Jul 29, 2015: He files fresh mercy plea to President.
Jul 29, 2015: Maharashtra Governor rejects mercy plea, President also turns it down.
July 30, 2015: Memon files fresh petition before Supreme Court seeking stay on execution. SC rejects it in the wee hours.
July 30, 2015: Memon is hanged.

"When I read page number 50 of Transcendence, second paragraph, there he writes, "No more manoeuvres are required any more, as I am placed in my final position in eternity". And within a month of that. he was no more." Arun K Tiwari, co-author of five of President A P J Abdul Kalam's books, including Wings of Fire, colleague and alter-ego, pays a moving tribute to his mentor of 34 years. Read more

Yakub Memon's brothers leave the Nagpur hotel they are staying at to head to the central jail to claim his body. Memon's body will be taken to Mumbai at 10.30 am by his family in an air ambulance and is likely to be buried in Mumbai's Marine Lines.


No family member was present at the jail during Yakub Memon's execution. Yakub's brother, Suleiman Memon, and cousin Usman, who were camping in Nagpur, were at a local hospital at the time of execution.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the state home affairs portfolio, is expected to make the announcement on Memon's execution at 11 am in the State Assembly.

Meanwhile, there is another funeral of a very different man today in Rameswaram. Former president APJ Abdul Kalam will be laid to rest at 11 am at his hometown in seashore town of Tamil Nadu.


Ahead of PM Modi's visit for the funeral, coastal security group deploys additional patrol boats and all terrain vehicles too have been deployed. A special train has left from Madurai to Rameswaram so that public can pay their last respects to Kalam.


Read our complete coverage on Dr APJ Kalam here.

Nagpur jail authorities say Yakub Memon was hanged at 7 am not at 6: 35 am as reported earlier. Yakub was declared dead at 7am.  

The Yakub Memon case has split public opinion. 

@sagarikaghose tweets: Hope justice will now be given to all victims: of 1984 riots,1992-93 riots, of Gujarat riots.They too lost loved ones. They too need closure

While, economist @bibekdebroy writes:
Candle Candle, burning dim,
In Jantar Mantar, on a whim;
What blighted mind and cursed hand,
Holds you in this bizarre land?

The Supreme Court, while confirming the death sentence of Yakub Memon and calling him a key conspirator, held that the other ten who were on death row were only the "bows" that the archer controlled. It commuted their sentence to life terms. There was a twelfth man on death row as well, but he had died pending appeal.

First reactions from the BJP: Spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain says justice was delayed but not denied.


Media reports say his body will be brought to Mumbai for burial by his family amidst tight security in an air ambulance leaving from Nagpur at 11 am.

The Hindu editorial on Yakub Memon's execution order.


Judicial finality need not necessarily mean that India should hang Yakub Memon. Even in this situation, as his life hangs on the slender thread of a fresh mercy plea to the President, is the irreversible and inhuman sentence of death the only recourse for a democratic government? Carrying out the sentence will only have the appearance of a justice that is retributive and vengeful, not substantial or morally different from the very offence that gave rise to the proceedings.  Read

A recap of all the drama that led up to Yakub Memon's hanging.


Yakub Memon, Mumbai blasts convict, was hanged at 6:43 am today, with the Supreme Court dismissing his last-minute attempt to escape the gallows by rejecting his plea for a stay on the death warrant.


"Stay of death warrant would be a travesty of justice. The plea is dismissed," said Justice Dipak Misra, heading a three-judge bench, in an order in Court Room 4 which was opened for an unprecedented 90-minute hearing that started at 3.20 am and ended a little before dawn.


The court's decision brings the curtain down on the last- ditch attempts by Memon's lawyers to stop the execution at Nagpur Central Jail.


Dictating the order, Justice Misra said ample opportunity was granted to the convict after rejection of the first mercy petition by the President on April 11, 2014 which was communicated to him on May 26, 2014. He said the rejection could have been assailed before the Supreme Court.


Justice Misra observed that really ample time was granted after rejection of the first mercy petition to prepare himself for the last and final meeting with family members and all other purposes.


"As a consequence, if we have to stay the death warrant it would be a travesty of justice," the bench said, adding that "we do not find any merit in the writ petition".


Further, it said while pronouncing the order yesterday "we have not perceived any error in the death warrant issued by the TADA court on April 30 for the execution on July 30. In the instant case, it is a clear expose of assertion of concept of justice in a totally different backdrop, the court said. The bench said the AG had submitted that at the drop of a hat one can add new challenges and developments and expect the President to act in exercise of power under Article 72 and thereafter on rejection of clemency they would challenge that in a court of law.


"We will be failing in our duty by allowing so," it said. The court observed that on the first glance the submissions made on behalf of Memon looked attractive but on finer consideration the case of the convict does not carry much weight. Reacting to the order, Grover said it was a tragic mistake and a wrong decision. The AG said the legal process has come to an end and it was not a question of victory.

Security across Maharashtra, especially in Mumbai and Nagpur, has been beefed up. The quick response team, an elite and armed wing of the Mumbai Police created after the 26/11 terror attack, has been pressed into action. A QRT team was also placed outside Yakub's cell and is still on guard.


After the scheduled hanging, a post-mortem will be conducted and the body will be handed over to the family. The body will be flown to Mumbai this afternoon.


In Mumbai, around 5,000 policemen have been pressed to guard Yakub's Mahim residence and the graveyard where the burial will take place. Till Wednesday night, over 500 people had been booked under preventive detention. 

Late last night, lawyers for Yakub Memon changed strategy and rushed to the residence Chief Justice of India H L Dattu and petitioned him for an urgent hearing to stay the hanging on the ground that 14 days time should be given to death row convict to enable him challenge the rejection and for other purposes.


After consultations, the CJI constituted the same three-judge bench that had earlier decided on the death warrant issue to go into the late night plea. Senior lawyers Anand Grover and Yug Chowdhury said that the authorities were "hell bent" on executing Memon without giving him the right to challenge the rejection of his mercy petition by the President as right to life of a condemned prisoner last till his last breath.


Grover said a death row convict is entitled to 14 days reprieve after rejection of mercy plea for various purposes. Opposing Memon's plea, Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi contended that Memon's fresh plea amounts to abusing the system.


A death warrant upheld just 10 hours ago by three judges cannot be quashed, he said, adding that the whole attempt appeared to be to prolong the stay in jail and get the sentenced commuted.

For the first time ever, the Supreme Court was opened for judges to hear a petition at 3 am. The final plea against the execution of Yakub Memon for his role in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case. After about 90 minutes, the judges rejected Memon's appeal to stop his execution. He was hanged in Nagpur central jail a little before 7 am.


"Stay of death warrant would be a travesty of justice. The plea is dismissed," said Justice Dipak Misra, heading a three-judge bench, in an order in Court Room 4 which was opened for an unprecedented 90-minute hearing that started at 3.20 am and ended a little before dawn.

A postmortem is being performed. Yakub Memon's body will be taken out of Nagpur prison at 11 am.

BREAKING: The Supreme Court has rejected the mercy plea made by Yakub Memon after a nearly hour-long mercy plea. Memon is scheduled for 7 am in the Nagpur Central Prison on his 53rd birthday.

"Review petition for Yakub was heard for 10 days when the law mandates that only half-hour has to be given,"says Justice Misra

Ample opportunity was given to Yakub Memon to present his case, says Justice Misra.

Justice Dipak Mishra: The execution warrant was communicated to Yakub Memon on July  13, 15. On April 11, 2014, the mercy petition by the brother of Yakub was rejected. Yakub never disowned the petition filed by his brother.

3 am: Yakub Memon to be woken up.

Similar prayers were made in the petition disposed off yesterday says Justice Dipak Mishra towards the end of the hearing.

Meanwhile, the Nagpur Jail administration has asked all its staff to deposit all mobiles phones and gadgets, according to ANI.

Judges are now taking decision on  the mercy petition. It may be recalled that Yakub  will be hanged at 7 am on Thursday morning barring any last-minute reprieve.

AG: Death warrant upheld just 10 hours ago by three judges cannot be quashed.

It is to be noted that journalists are present in the court room and have access to the arguments.

"It is the petitioner's idea is to delay the execution by 4-5 years on death row and then seek commutation alleging inordinate delay," argues the AG.

"Filing second mercy plea is abusing the system," Attorney General Rohatgi has argued in court.

From NDTV: "You are not challenging the rejection of the mercy plea?," asked one of the judges to the Memon's lawyer.

Attorney General Rohatgi: If the Executive cannot grant mercy, the court cannot intervene.

From PTI: Lawyers are arguing that the nearest legal aid centre has to be informed about rejection of the plea, but it could not be done because it was late night.

The never-seen-before early morning hearing is now underway in the Supreme Court, and is not expected to go on for very long.

Ironically, jail authorities delivered a confidential letter to Yakub's family at around 3 am at a hotel in Nagpur.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi has just reached the Supreme Court. The hearing will start any minute from now. 

The unprecedented middle of the night hearing regarding the death sentence of Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon is about to begin.

Senior lawyers, including Prashant Bhushan, Nitya Ramakrishnan, Yug Chaoudahry and Brinda Grover have reached the courtroom.

Security in and around Mumbai has been tightened  ahead of the SC court hearing.

The bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra, Prafulla Chandra Pant and Amitava Roy, which had upheld the death warrant against the 1993 Mumbai blasts convict, will hear the petition 

And this is the scene outside the Nagpur Jail.

And this is the SC registrar reaching the CJI's residence again.

JUST IN: Uncertainty still hangs over whether Yakub Memon will hang today morning for his role in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts. 

In an unprecedented development, it is now being reported that the Supreme Court's doors would be thrown open to hear the plea.

According to several media reports, the final plea against the hanging of Yakub Memon, the lone death row convict in the March 12, 1993 Mumbai blasts case is being heard by the Chief Justice of India.

Major confusion outside Justice Mishra's house. Earlier, reports said that the hearing would take place at the CJI's residence. A little later, the action shifted to Justice Mishra's house.

A court room would be set up inside Justice Misra's living room, according to TV reports. 

The entire road leading to Chief Justice Deepak Mishra's residence has been barricaded.

The fresh petition pleads that an order be passed that the authorities should give Yakub Memon at least 14 days time for execution after the rejection of his mercy petition as per the apex court's guidelines.

Memon's hanging is scheduled for 7 am tomorrow in the Nagpur Central Prison on his 53rd birthday as per the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act court's order even as prison sources said preparations were completed to carry out the execution amid tight security.

Activists are saying that once the President rejects the mercy plea, the death row prisoner can't be hanged for 14 days in accordance with the rules.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray criticised All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Asaduddin Owaisi and actor Salman Khan here today for opposing Yakub Memon's execution.

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