Afzal’s family demands
his body; wife in shock

Speaking to IANS by phone from Sopore, Afzal Guru’s cousin Yaseen said they have written a letter to Baramulla Deputy Commissioner G A Khwaja February 10, and finally got confirmation of its receipt but no inkling if the matter will be taken up.

“Our wish is to get his body back,” said the 33-year-old Yaseen, a teacher in a private school.

He said Afzal Guru’s wife, Tabassum, is in deep shock and was fainting from time to time.

“She just want to see him for the last time. At least, the authorities could do is for us to see his body,” he added.

“She is in a bad state. She faints and when she is revived back just asks for him (Afzal Guru). My uncle’s son is also stunned. He is not reacting, but we can make out he is in deep shock,” Yaseen said. Afzal Guru’s son Ghalib is 12 years old.

“The government had done what they wanted to do. But now our only wish is to get back his body. In this regard, we also wrote to the Baramulla DC,” Yaseen said.

“We spoke to the DC office yesterday (Monday) whether they had received the letter. They (the DC office) continued to deny that they have received any such letter. But in the evening (Monday) we got an acknowledgment from them that they have received our letter,” added Yaseen.

He said that the acknowledgment doesn’t mention that the official will take this matter with the home ministry.

“I don’t know how the DC will take the matter with the home ministry. We really hope that they do something in this regard,” said Yaseen.

Afzal Guru, 43, was hanged inside Delhi’s Tihar Jail on February 9 morning for plotting the attack on Parliament House that occurred December 13, 2001. He was buried inside the jail complex as per the jail manual.

The family through their lawyer in Delhi also approached the Tihar Jail authorities for the body. They wrote to the authorities on the same day.

Jail authorities said that the home ministry will take a decision on this matter.