MHA, IB oppose handing over Guru, Bhat remains to kin

Decision after Shinde returns from Maharashtra.

Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami, a J&K cadre IAS, is said to have called a meeting recently where the move was opposed on the ground that it was against India’s Kashmir policy and may lead to trouble in the Valley. PTI

The politics over the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and JKLF co-founder Maqbool Bhat is out in open again with the J&K government asking the Centre to hand over the mortal remains of the two to their families. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), on the demand of the state government, recently convened a meeting to discuss the matter where officials of the ministry and Intelligence Bureau (IB) are learnt to have opposed the demand.

However, a final decision is likely to be taken once Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde returns from Maharashtra polls, sources said. Afzal, an accused in 2001 Parliament attack, was hanged inside Tihar jail in New Delhi on February 2013 while Maqbool was given death penalty in February 1984. On their death anniversaries, the families had approached both Centre and state asking them to direct Tihar authorities to hand over their belongings. It was after this that the state government is learnt to have taken up the request with the Centre, asking them to consider handing over their mortal remains.

Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami, a J&K cadre IAS, is said to have called a meeting recently where the move was opposed on the ground that it was against India’s Kashmir policy and may lead to trouble in the Valley. Security agencies felt it may lead to disturbance in other parts of the country as well. They also cited that there has been no major untoward incident after the hanging in past one year and security forces have managed to contain the violence with great difficulty.

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Speaking to The Indian Express over phone, Chief Secretary of J&K, Mohd Iqbal Khandey said, “I have no comments to offer.” On being asked if the state government had sought the remains, he said, “I can neither confirm nor deny.” MHA sources said there has been communication from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to examine the demands of the family. It is learnt that the PMO has been receiving letters and requests from J&K leaders asking to handover the remains.

The state government argued that Afzal’s execution in secrecy and him not being given an opportunity to meet his family did not go down well with the people of Kashmir. The representatives from Tihar jail, who were also consulted, expressed their reservations against handing over the remains of the two.

Another official argued they fear that the remains of Afzal and Maqbol may be used as a symbol to stoke communal feelings. Officials also said that due to upcoming polls, the forces will be spread all over the country and it will be difficult for the government to handle law and order trouble.

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