Srinagar, Feb 12: Tahir Mir managed to reach Srinagar’s martyrs’ graveyard early Tuesday morning amid strict curfew. He had brought with himself an epitaph with the title of ‘Shaheed-i-Watan (Martyr of the Nation)’ in respect for Muhammad Afzal Guru, who was buried in Delhi’s Tihar Jail after being hanged on February 9.
 The epitaph reads: “The nation waits for the mortal remains of Afzal which lie as a trust with the Government of India.” “I somehow managed to reach the martyrs’ graveyard at 6.30 a.m. I placed the epitaph near Maqbool Bhat’s empty grave,” says Mir, who is senior vice-chairman JKLF (R). “The main aim of the move is to keep a place for Afzal’s body as he has offered a great sacrifice for Kashmir cause by going to gallows,” Mir said.
 “Since Afzal’s sacrifice is of high stature, we decided to keep a grave for him close to Bhat’s,” he said. JKLF founder Maqbool Bhat was hanged and buried in Tihar Jail in 1984.
 Afzal’s family has termed the move as an outcome of public emotions. “People of Kashmir are emotionally charged. Keeping a grave for Afzal is an emotional step. We welcome the move,” said Muhammad Yasin Guru, Afzal’s cousin.
 “We are not going to visit Guru’s grave in Tihar Jail. Our demand is entirely different- return of his body. We will strive hard for the return of mortal remains of our brother,” he said.
 The martyrs’ graveyard has at least 1000 graves. People who got killed in encounters and protests are buried here.
 For a moment, the residents of Eidgah area felt as if someone had been killed and buried at the grave as people assembled near the epitaph. “We thought a body has been brought here. But later we saw a grave has been kept reserved for Guru,” said Imtiyaz Ahmed, a local.
 Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani has called for Eidgah chalo on Friday for offering funeral prayers in absentia for Afzal.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 12 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST