Srinagar, Feb 14: The epitaph from the grave reserved for Muhammad Afzal Guru at the Martyrs’ Graveyard at Eidgah here was ‘removed by police’ but was later put there again for fear of possible protests.
 Reports said the epitaph from the reserved grave was removed. But after some locals witnessed the “suspicious activity”, it was put back there later. The replaced epitaph, according to locals, was a little different from the earlier one, though the contents written on it were same.
 The locals accused police of removing the epitaph during night. Soon after the news spread, the stone was replaced and put there again.
 Reports also said police did not allow people to go closer to the graveyard. Police, they said, had sealed the Martyrs Graveyard since early Wednesday morning. The civilian movement towards the graveyard was prohibited with even media persons barred to go closer, they said.
 Police however refuted the allegation saying the tombstone was not removed and sealing the graveyard was an “order from the higher ups.”
 Pertinently, the epitaph for Afzal’s body was placed at the Martyrs Graveyard on February 11, adjacent to the empty grave of the JKLF founder Muhammad Maqbool Bhat, who was executed and buried inside New Delhi’s Tihar jail on February 11, 1984. Guru’s epitaph reads: “The nation waits for the mortal remains of Afzal which lie as a trust with the Government of India.”
 Tahir Mir of JKLF 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.
 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

Lastupdate on : Thu, 14 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST