Afzal's family demands his belongings

A day after the execution,  members of Afzal Guru’s family demanded that his spectacles, clothes and a radio should be returned to them, but a Tihar Jail official on Sunday said the government was yet to take a decision on the issue.

“Afzal Guru’s wife, Tabassum, and his family have already demanded his body so that the last rites could be performed in accordance with Islam,” Afzal Guru’s cousin Yaseen Guru said from Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir. “For the family, Afzal Guru’s spectacles, a radio which he used to hear in jail and clothes have a lot of significance,” he said. Yaseen Guru said the family is also planning to visit New Delhi to take up the matter with jail authorities.

“His spectacles are most precious for Tabassum and their 12-year-old son Ghalib. If the government cannot give his body to us, then at least they should return his belongings,” said Yaseen Guru. A Tihar Jail official, on condition of anonymity said, “According to the jail manual, an executed prisoners’ property has to be returned to the family.”

However, the Director-General (Prisons) Vimla Mehra said: “Afzal Guru’s belongings are in our possession. The government will take a decision whether his body or his belongings are to be given to the family.”

Afzal Guru’s lawyer N D Pancholi said: “It is the family’s right to get back his belongings from the jail. We will meet government officials and (make a) demand for it.”   Soon after Afzal Guru’s execution, Pancholi wrote to the Tihar Jail chief on behalf of the convict’s family, seeking permission to perform his last rites in accordance with their religious traditions.

Delhi continued to be on alert on Sunday while Delhi University lecturer S A R Geelani, who was allegedly detained, said he had been advised to stay home. “Delhi continues to be on alert and Quick Reaction Teams have been asked to be prepared for any untoward incident or protests,” said a senior Delhi Police officer.

“They (police) did not want me to speak to the media, so they detained me. They took me to the special cell offices in New Friends’ Colony,” Geelani said. However, the Delhi Police claimed they did not detain Geelani. However, police sources admitted that some people were being “monitored” as a preventive measure. Geelani said he was let off at 10 pm on Saturday and had been “advised” not to go out of his house.