No letters from Delhi for Afzal family, says postal dept

Soon after Afzal Guru was hanged on Saturday, the Centre said two letters had been sent to his family by speed post — on February 7 and 8 — informing them about the rejection of his mercy petition and his hanging. But the postal department authorities in Baramulla, where Afzal's wife Tabassum lives, and in Sopore, where his brother Ajaz Ahmad Guru lives, confirmed that they were yet to receive the letters.

Afzal's family members have said that they did not receive any communication from the Centre or state government in this regard.

"For the past few days, I have been receiving many inquiries from senior officials and other people asking about letters sent by speed post from New Delhi to Afzal's family members," said Ghulam Ali Shiekh, postmaster of the Sopore branch responsible for delivering letters to Doabgah area where Ajaz lives. "So far we have not received any such letter, either at Sopore or at my post office,'' he added.

Sheikh said the local postman in charge of the area had also confirmed that the family had not received the letters.

"I can say with assurance that we have not received any speed post in the name of Afzal's family members," he said.

At the Baramulla post office too, officials confirmed that no such letter had been delivered to Afzal's wife. "I clearly remember her house at Azad Gunj," said Mohammad Ibrahim, the local postman. "I have not delivered any speed post in the name of Tabassum. I think the letters have not reached us yet."

When contacted, J&K's chief postmaster general John Samuel, said a letter sent by speed post normally takes three days for delivery. "I have no idea about any particular speed post in the name of Afzal's family,'' he said, adding that he was not informed by any official from New Delhi about any letter for Afzal's family.

Source : The Indian Express, 11 February, 2013