New Delhi, Feb 11: Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Monday debunked theories that the hanging of Afzal Guru was politically motivated and maintained that his family was informed as per the prescribed rules.
 Amidst raging controversy on his family having been prevented from meeting him or attend his last rites, Shinde said that the family’s request to visit his grave in Tihar jail can be considered.
 Responding to media queries here during his monthly press conference, Shinde commented that the Centre’s letter was delivered to his family two days after the hanging and added that everything was done as per law.
 Significantly, Shinde defended the secrecy government maintained in executing Afzal saying it would not have happened had the decision been made public in advance. "Secrecy has to be maintained. If something is known, then things don't happen," Shinde said, citing the previous example, set by him, of 26/11 Mumbai attacker Ajmal Kasab, who too was hanged secretly in a Pune jail last year.
 Afzal Guru was hanged in the Tihar jail on Saturday morning, whereas his family on Monday received an official letter informing about his execution.
 According to reports received here, the letter dispatched by the Superintendent of Tihar Jail was delivered to Guru’s family this morning.
 The Home Minister however denied that Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's charge that he was kept in the dark about the Centre's decision to hang him.
 While replying a query, Shinde confirmed that he personally informed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the night of February 8 about Guru’s execution.  “I personally informed Omar about the execution. Also, the family of Afzal Guru was informed on the night of February 7.”   

Lastupdate on : Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST