A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Delhi High Court on Monday, urging the removal of the graves of Maqbool Bhat and Mohammad Afzal Guru from Tihar Jail premises. The petition, filed by Vishwa Vedic Sanatan Sangh and Jitendra Singh through advocate Barun Kumar Sinha, demands the relocation of their remains to a secure, undisclosed location to prevent the glorification of terrorism.
Maqbool Bhat, founder of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), was executed in 1984 for separatist activities, including the 1981 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight. Afzal Guru, convicted for his role in the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, was executed in 2013. Both were buried within Tihar Jail as per security protocols.
The petitioners argue that the graves violate the Delhi Prisons Rules, 2018, which mandate the disposal of executed prisoners’ bodies to avoid glorification and maintain public order. They claim the graves have turned Tihar Jail into a “radical pilgrimage site,” attracting extremists and posing risks to national security and prison discipline. The plea also raises concerns about health hazards, such as the spread of contagious diseases.
Citing precedents like the secret burials of Ajmal Kasab (2012 Mumbai attacks) and Yakub Memon (1993 Mumbai blasts), the petitioners seek immediate action to relocate the remains. The case is yet to be listed for hearing, with a possible date on September 24, 2025, when the court typically addresses PILs.
The petition underscores ongoing debates over handling the remains of executed convicts in India, balancing security and public sentiment.
Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
You Might Also Like:
Omar Abdullah Says Yasin Malik’s Case Should Be Left to Judiciary
UK, Canada and Australia Recognise Palestinian State, Defying Israel and US to Revive
Oxford Presentation School Anantnag Hosts IIMUN 2025 in South Kashmir, Fostering Leadership and Diplomacy