Srinagar: Afzal Guru’s family said that they would not visit his grave inside Tihar Jail, but would instead continue their struggle to get his mortal remains back to Kashmir.
Commenting on the statement of union Home Secretary R.K. Singh that the jail authorities would shortly take a decision on allowing the family to offer funeral prayers at his grave, Afzal’s brother Yaseen Guru said: “The family has made it clear that we want Afzal’s body back so that we can perform the burial as per the Islamic rites.
“So far as the question of offering funeral prayers at his grave is concerned, the entire Valley has been offering prayers for his soul for the last four days.
“Afzal’s wife, Tabassum has already written a letter to deputy commissioner Baramulla demanding her husband’s body and we will continue to struggle for that.”
In another related development, a grave has been dug at the martyrs’ graveyard in Eidgah area here where a tombstone has also been erected which describes Afzal as “Shaheed-e-Watan (Martyr of his country)”.
The tombstone says Afzal’s body is lying in trust with the government of India at present.
Meanwhile in New Delhi Govt is willing to allow the family to offer prayers over his grave in Tihar Jail, but no decision on returning his body has been made.
“We have no problem if the immediate family of Afzal Guru wants to come and offer prayers at his grave in Tihar jail,” the home secretary told reporters.
Tihar jail authorities will soon take a formal decision on the possible date for Afzal Guru’s family to visit the grave.
He said all of Afzal Guru’s belongings left behind in Tihar jail will be handed over to his family.
“Belongings of Afzal will be returned to the family,” Singh said.
Guru was hanged inside Tihar Jail on Feb 9 morning for plotting the attack on Parliament House that occurred Dec 13, 2001. He was buried inside the jail complex in accordance with the jail manual.