Afzal's family to be allowed in Tihar: Home Secretary

NEW DELHI: The family of Afzal Guru, who was hanged last week for his role in the 2001 Parliament attack case, will be allowed to visit his grave inside Tihar jail here, Home Secretary R K Singh said today.

"We have no problem if immediate family of Afzal Guru wants to come and offer prayers at his grave in Tihar jail," he told reporters here.

Singh was responding to a question on allowing Guru's family to offer prayers at his grave.

The Tihar jail authorities will soon take a formal decision on the possible date for Guru's family to visit the grave.

The Home Secretary said all belongings left behind in Tihar jail by Guru will be handed over to his family.

"Belongings of Afzal will be returned to the family," Singh said.

Yesterday, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had said the government will consider any request by the family of Afzal Guru in this regard.

"If they want to go (to the grave), it can be considered," Shinde had told a press conference here.

The family of 43-year-old Afzal had expressed desire to offer at least "fathiah namaz" (prayer at the grave) and take his belongings.