A radio, books, his writings left in Afzal Guru cell

Among the things that Afzal Guru left behind in his cell are a radio, a collection of books on diverse topics — religion, philosophy, history, Urdu poetry — and his own writings. Tihar Jail authorities are yet to take a call on handing these over to his family.

According to sources, Afzal was an avid reader and writer. He would frequently ask for books from the jail library. One of these was L K Advani's My Country, My Life.

"He only asked for books... on one occasion, he wanted to know what Advani had written about him. He loved reading Urdu poetry... He also asked for Maulana Abul Kalam Azad's India Wins Freedom," said a jail

official.

"We will be asking for his belongings, in addition to the request to allow his family to perform his last rites," said Nandita Haskar, one of the lawyers representing Afzal's family.

Sources said Afzal would wake up at around 6 am and say his prayers. Breakfast was served at around 7:30 am. "He did not like rice, but he loved milk. He insisted on having milk everyday," said a jail official.

Meanwhile, DG (Prisons) Vimla Mehra said the union home ministry informed the Tihar Jail authorities about the rejection of Afzal's mercy petition on February 4.

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