The Ahmeds still seek answers

It is almost three months since Kafeel Ahmed, one of the main suspects in the Glasgow bombing, succumbed to burn injuries at a hospital in the United Kingdom. However, till date, his parents refuse to believe that the man who died after the blasts is their son.

Family sources told rediff.com that the parents, Dr Maqbool Ahmed and Dr Zakia Ahmed, had left for the UK. Some maintain that the parents were in the UK to conduct the last rites of Kafeel while others say they were there to offer moral support to their other son, Dr Sabeel Ahmed, who is in the custody of the UK police.

Sabeel has been charged with concealing information regarding the blasts.

In Bangalore, sources maintain that the last rites were already conducted and the family had been instructed to maintain a low profile on the issue. The UK police also were apprehensive of making the burial ceremony a public affair, as they felt that the grave may turn into a martyr's spot.

Sources, who did not wish to be named, said the parents had applied for a visa in the first week of September. However, the family's lawyer, B T Venkatesh, maintains that there is no official confirmation on whether the person who died was really Kafeel Ahmed.

Dr Zakia Ahmed may stay on in UK until the trial of her other son is complete. Family sources said that Sabeel needed moral support and since the mother believed that he was innocent, she will stay on to support him.

The Bangalore police who are tracking this case closely maintain till date that there is no communication from the UK police. Hence they too are unable to say for sure whether the man who died was Kafeel Ahmed or not.

Kafeel's parents, before leaving for the UK, had held a prayer meeting in their house.

Umar Sharrief, an Islamic scholar who conducted the prayer meeting, said the parents wanted the burial to take place in the UK itself.

Dr Zakia had said: 'it makes no difference where he is buried, as the land is the same everywhere, be it in the UK or in India. What is important is that he should unite with the Almighty.'

Sharrief said that 'according to the Islamic law, the burial should take place as soon as possible. He also said that Dr Zakia was still unable to come to terms with the entire episode and still hopes that one day both her sons will be proven innocent.'