Wednesday, November 6, 2024
spot_img

Two days after hanging, speed post reaches Afzal Guru’s family

Date:

Share post:

spot_img
spot_img

SRINAGAR: The speed post sent by Tihar Jail superintendent to Afzal Guru’s family in Kashmir Valley’s Sopore town was delivered Monday, two days after he was hanged in the national capital. The letter reached postal authorities here Saturday evening, several hours after he was executed.

“A speed post letter has been delivered to us by postal authorities today. Tihar Jail authorities have sent this speed post to Afzal’s family,” Afzal Guru’s cousin Yaseen told journalists in Daibgah (Jageer) village near Sopore town.

Senior postal officials in Srinagar said the speed post was received Saturday evening – Afzal Guru was executed at 8am on Saturday – but delivered Monday as Sunday was a public holiday.

“We received the speed post by air Saturday evening. It was addressed to Tabassum Guru (his wife). Sunday being a public holiday, the speed post has been delivered today,” John Samuel, chief post master general (Jammu and Kashmir), told journalists.

Afzal Guru, hanged for his role in the 2001 attack on parliament, last met his Tabassum and son Ghalib in August 2012.

His family has said they heard the news of his execution from a television channel as they had received no communication from jail authorities about the hanging.

Home Secretary R.K. Singh said Saturday: “The family was informed earlier. I checked from the jail authorities and they informed me that two letters had been sent by speed post. The DGP Kashmir was asked to crosscheck too. It is not correct that the family was not informed.”

Jammu and Kashmir Chief minister Omar Abdullah has been highly critical of the Jail authorities for having used speed post for intimating Afzal’s family.

“As a human being, I find it very difficult to reconcile myself to the fact that we executed a person who was not given the opportunity to see his family for the last time. If in this day and age, we are relying on speed post to inform a family that their loved one is going to be executed, there is something seriously wrong. I wish we were the ones who were authorised to inform the family,” he told a TV channel.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said, “Afzal Guru’s family was informed and the speed post was sent on the night of Feb 7. He was hanged Feb 9.”

He added that he had called Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Feb 8 and informed him about the hanging.

“We acted according to the rules,” Shinde said.

Shinde stressed that it was not a “political decision.” (Agencies)

spot_img
spot_img

Related articles

HC tells govt, SBI to finalise MoU on provident fund issue by Nov 30

In a writ petition concerning the centralised provident fund scheme for staff at deficit-aided schools and colleges in...

Phan Nonglait Park’s footfall drops as Ri-Bhoi zoo nears inauguration

SHILLONG, Nov 5: With Meghalaya’s new zoo all set to open soon following the transfer of animals from...

TRANSFORMING STREETS

Students paint a portion of MG Road as part of the “Reimagining Streets” initiative, in Shillong on Tuesday....

VPP wants unfilled seats reserved for locals at USTM med college

SHILLONG, Nov 5: The VPP has urged the state government to reserve unfilled MBBS seats under the Meghalaya...