New Delhi: A plea has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking directions to remove the graves of terrorists Mohammad Afzal Guru and Mohammad Maqbool Bhatt, both of whom were awarded the death penalty and executed at Tihar Jail, from the prison premises.
The PIL also requests that the authorities relocate the mortal remains, if necessary, to a secret location to prevent the “glorification of terrorism” and misuse of the jail grounds.
Filed by the Vishwa Vedic Sanatan Sangh and Jitendra Singh, the petition claims that the construction and continued presence of these graves within a state-controlled prison is “illegal, unconstitutional, and against public interest.”
The petitioners’ counsel stated that the hearing date for the petition has not yet been confirmed, but it may be listed on Wednesday, the day the High Court typically hears PILs.
The plea alleges that the presence of these graves has turned Tihar Jail into a site of “radical pilgrimage,” attracting extremist elements who venerate the convicted terrorists.
“This not only undermines national security and public order but also sanctifies terrorism, in direct contravention of the principles of secularism and the rule of law under the Constitution of India,” the plea stated.
The petition further argues that the existence of the graves violates the Delhi Prisons Rules, 2018, which require the disposal of executed prisoners’ bodies in a manner that prevents glorification, ensures prison discipline, and maintains public order.
“The petitioners therefore seek the urgent intervention of this Court to direct the respondents to remove the graves from Tihar Jail and relocate them securely and discreetly, following established state practice in cases such as Ajmal Kasab and Yakub Memon, where every precaution was taken to prevent glorification,” it added.
The plea notes that both Bhatt and Guru, influenced by “extremist Jihadi ideology,” carried out acts of terrorism that gravely threatened India’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security. Bhatt was executed in 1984, while Guru was hanged in February 2013.
