New Delhi: In line with protocol, Islamabad was informed before Ajmal Amir Kasab, the Pakistani caught after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, was hanged in Pune Wednesday, informed sources said.
Pakistan was also told about an address in Pakistan that Kasab had given to Indian authorities, the sources said.
"Pakistan has been informed but there is no demand for Kasab's body," Shinde told the media.
"Pakistan refused to accept the letter informing them of Kasab's hanging and they returned it. So we sent them a fax as well," he added.
Shinde said Kasab would be buried in India as Pakistan had refused to accept the body.
Asked if the hanging would cause a law and order problem, Shinde said: "I don't think there will be any trouble (if Kasab is buried in India)."
Asked about the secrecy surrounding the hanging, Shinde said: "Such matters have to be kept secret. But as I had said earlier, we will do the needful whenever we get the papers (from the president) and we have done it."
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said the hanging of Ajmal Amir Kasab was in accordance with Indian laws and he had been given "all necessary opportunities" without discrimination.
"Everything has been done according to the law of land. All actions have been taken as per the law of the country," Khurshid said.
The minister said it sent the message that India did not discriminate against anyone.
"It is a clear indication for the whole world that that rule of law is there in this country. We see all as equal and have no animosity against any one. We gave him all necessary opportunities as per rule of law," he said.
Asked if Kasab's family in Pakistan had asked for his body, Khurshid said no such request had been sent yet.
"If there is any request from Pakistan we will consider it as per the rules, but no such request has come from Pakistan yet," he said.
Congress leader Digvijay Singh hailed the decision.
"I congratulate the president. Any person involved in a terror attack like Mumbai deserved to be hanged but the conspiracy behind the attack has to be taken to its logical conclusion," he said.
Kasab, the lone surviving Pakistani terrorist responsible for the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, was hanged at Pune's Yerawada Jail Wednesday morning. He was buried in the jail premises shortly after.
The hanging of Ajmal Amir Kasab was a case of "better late than never", the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said Wednesday after the 26/11 Pakistani terrorist was executed in Pune's Yerawada jail.
"It took us four years to finally hang him...Better late than never," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told mediapersons here.
Asking the government to "expedite the whole process of mercy petitions", Prasad also demanded action against Afzal Guru, who masterminded the attack on parliament in December 2001.
"All the handlers, conspirators of the Mumbai attack still remain at large in Pakistan," Prasad said further.
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi termed the hanging as "a stern warning to the enemies of India especially those across the border who want to terrorise India".
Calling Ajmal Amir Kasab's execution a case of "better late than never", the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded that Afzal Guru, convicted in the Dec 2001 parliament attack case, be hanged next.
"It took us four years to finally hang him... Better late than never," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told mediapersons after the 26/11 Pakistani terrorist was executed in Pune's Yerawada jail.
"The Supreme Court has rejected his (Afzal Guru's) plea, and his review petition has also been rejected. But why has the government not taken any action? I hope the government will now expedite the whole process of mercy petition," Prasad said.
Similar views were expressed by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Digvijaya Singh.
"What about Afzal Guru, who attacked parliament, our temple of democracy, in 2001? That offence predates Kasab's heinous act by many years," Modi said, on micro blogging website Twitter.
In rare consonance, Digvijaya Singh tweeted: "Finally Kasab hanged. GoI (government of India) should pursue the case of the Handlers in Pakistan. Afzal Guru's case should also be expedited now."
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi termed the hanging "a stern warning to the enemies of India, especially those across the border who want to terrorise India".
Another party spokesperson, Sayed Shahnawaz Hussain said the execution of Kasab came as "balm on the wounds of the victims".
"Kasab's hanging will act as a balm on the wounds of the people of Mumbai but their wounds are still fresh," Hussain said.
He added that the victims of the Mumbai terrorist attack would get real relief only when "Kasab's handlers across the border are brought to justice".
Hours after Pakistani Ajmal Kasab was hanged in Pune, Human Rights Watch urged India to remove the death penalty from its legal framework.
"The hanging of Kasab marks a concerning end to the country's moratorium on capital punishment," said a statement from the US-based rights group issued in India.
"Instead of resorting to the use of execution to address heinous crime, India should join the rising ranks of nations that have taken the decision to remove the death penalty from their legal frameworks," it added.
