New Delhi, Feb 9 (IANS): Afzal Guru was woken up at 5 a.m. Saturday and he offered his prayers before calmly approaching the noose about three hours later, jail officials in Tihar Jail said.

He was buried after the hanging at 8 a.m. outside his cell in the jail. He had known since Friday evening what was in store, a source in the prison said while recounting his last hours.

"Since the deputy jailer came with the orders of hanging last (Friday) evening, Guru was aware of it. He was woken up at around 5 a.m. He offered namaz (prayers) after that and was really calm when approaching the gallows," the source told IANS.

"He was happy and healthy," Tihar Jail Director General Vimla Mehra told IANS.

"He was hanged at 8 a.m. (Saturday). He was lodged in special security jail number 3 and was hanged about 20 meters away from the cell," she said.

"Before the hanging, a medical check-up was conducted on him and his health and blood pressure were normal."

Informed sources told IANS that Afzal Guru, convicted for his role in plotting the attack on Indian parliament on Dec 13, 2001, was hanged in the presence of three doctors, one magistrate and jail officials.