Don't agonize over my death, Afzal Guru wrote in last letter

NEW DELHI: The morning that Afzal Guru was to be executed, he wrote a
letter to his wife, Tabassum. Written in Urdu, he handed it over to
jail officials before he was marched out for his execution.

"He pressed the letter into the jail superintendent's hand just before
he was asked to step out of his cell. All he said was that it was
meant for his wife and to please ensure that it reached her safely,"
said a senior Tihar official.

"It was his last wish. We have sent the letter through Speed Post as
that is the only mode available to us and should reach the family
soon," he added. Afzal would frequently pen down his thoughts in jail
and always had access to pen and paper, said officials, and wrote the
letter using the same stationery.

Officials said that Afzal in the letter only wrote about family
matters. "It was an extremely personal letter where he told his wife
to take care of their son and not agonize over his death. In very
gently worded language, he said that she should remain strong for
their son and not give in to despair. As ever, Guru was calm and
dignified in his parting words," said a source.

"The family should be able to read the letter in private and should
share it with public if they wish to. In deference to their privacy,
they should not again have to find out about their family member
through national media. All we can say is that it was only related to
his personal life and did not deal with any national matter," he
added.

The family, based in Sopore in Kashmir, is yet to receive the letter.
The entire plan for Afzal's execution, named 'Operation Three Star',
was planned to the last detail, said prison sources. "It was named
Operation Three Star because it took place in the jail number 3
premises. All jail officials concerned were briefed and all of them
stayed in jail through the night on Friday and finalized all
preparations. Contrary to certain media reports, where he would be
buried and what all procedure would be maintained was pre-decided and
the entire process was completed by 9am. All decisions were made as
per detailed talks with the government," said a highly-placed source
in Tihar.

"There has been much speculation on his final day, some of which is
wrong. He did not spend a sleepless night before his execution. He was
one of the most model prisoners in jail, and did not create any
trouble till the last," he added.

TOI