Despite growing clamour in the Kashmir Valley for the return of Afzal Guru’s body to his family, the Union government is unlikely to budge on the issue though it has agreed to let the Parliament attack case convict’s close relatives visit his grave inside the Tihar jail complex.
Though the Jammu and Kashmir government has forwarded to the Centre a letter written by Afzal’s wife Tabassum, demanding handing over of the body, it is highly unlikely that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) would concede to the request, fearing serious law and order problems in the Valley, government sources said.
“The government will take a final decision on the issue soon…The Jammu and Kashmir government will be asked to convey it to Afzal Guru’s family,” a senior MHA official said.
Notably, Tabassum had submitted the letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Baramulla in north Kashmir, which was subsequently forwarded by the State government to the Centre.
The official further pointed out that the government took a “conscious decision” not to hand over Guru’s body to his family; and that there would be no “rethink” on the issue.