Chances are remote that the government will hand over Afzal Guru's body to his family. Afzal was executed on February 9 in the Tihar jail premises for his role in the 2001 Parliament attacks.
Government is likely to turn down the request of family of Afzal Guru, who was hanged and buried in Tihar jail, for handing over his body.
A senior Home Ministry official said a final decision in this regard will be taken soon and the Jammu and Kashmir government will be informed about it.
ADVERTISEMENT
Afzal Guru was executed on February 9 in Tihar jail premises
The state government had forwarded a letter sent by Tabassum, wife of Parliament attack convict Afzal, to Deputy Commissioner of Baramulla in North Kashmir demanding handing over of his body.
The Home Ministry official said Afzal was buried inside Tihar jail complex in line with the prison manual and the government has no plans to hand over the body considering various aspects, including the law and order situation in the state.
Various outfits including main opposition party in the state PDP and separatist groups have been demanding handing over the body of Afzal, who was hanged on February 9 after his conviction in the 2001 Parliament attack case.
The Kashmir Valley was agog with rumours Sunday that Afzal's body had arrived and was being buried in the cover of darkness. The news spread like a wild fire through social networking sites.
Last week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had expressed his displeasure to Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde over the delay in informing Afzal's family about his hanging.
Singh told Shinde that Guru's family should have been informed in advance about the execution carried out on the morning of February 9 at Tihar Jail.
Afzal was buried inside the Tihar jail alongside Kashmiri separatist leader Maqbool Bhat, who was also interred in the jail complex after his hanging in 1984.
The mortal remains of Bhat were not handed over to his family. The government has already said it will allow close relatives to visit Afzal's grave, an offer rejected by the family saying they want nothing but his body.u00a0
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
