Srinagar: Expressing serious concern over the plight of hundreds of Kashmiri prisoners lodged in Tihar and various jails in and outside the state, Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) on Tuesday said that the jail authorities are badly treating all these prisoners in complete violation of jail manual.

Distressed over the reports of thrashing of prisoners in Tihar jail, JRL comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik said that the ghastly act has put the lives of all Kashmiri political prisoners in risk.

Appealing international organizations including United Nations, Human Rights Commission, Asia Watch and Amnesty International for their cognizance, JRL stressed to take notice of the inhuman and hostile treatment meted out to detainees lodged in Tihar jail. The leadership sought help from international agencies and asked to provide suitable treatment to those injured in recent thrashing incident and ensure their security and safety.

JRL while referring to Supreme Court ruling, demanded shifting of prisoners, saying detainees are subjected to vengeance, and despite sufficient accommodation in local jails, they are shifted to outside jails and as such their families face immense difficulties to seek meetings with their wards.

“They even ignore the ruling of Supreme Court regarding the prisoners wherein it has clearly directed state authorities to lodge detainees adjacent to their home cities,” the JRL said in a statement.

Criticizing authorities for their “callous approach”, the JRL said, “It is extreme state sponsored oppression and their tall claims and rhetoric about humanity and democracy are proving a mere hoax.”

Thrashing incident in Tihar jail is extremely inhuman and immoral act and blaming authorities for their bigoted mindset, JRL added that “these cowardice attacks are being carried on their directions.”

The resistance leaders condemned the thrashing of Syed Shahid Yusuf in high security ward of Tihar jail, saying that on behest of jail authorities, criminals are attacking and taking extreme steps against Kashmiri detainees.

They said those claiming to be the ‘champions of democracy’ are violating the basic norms of humanity while treating these detainees in total violations of norms set by international rights bodies.

JRL said that these criminals have admitted that they are carrying out the orders of jail administration and attacking and injuring Kashmiri prisoners.

Resistance leaders said that “the attack on Syed Shahid Yusuf and other prisoners was carried by the jail administration. The 18 accused were injured by Tamil Nadu Police, deputed in Tihar jail and added that Dr Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, Ahtisham, Shazad Ahmad, Mohammad Subhan, Ayaz Akbar, Raja Meraj u Din Kalwal, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Mohammad Aslam Wani and Dr Waseem are lodged in same ward.”

The leaders while terming the incident as ‘extremely brutal and callous’, asked International human rights organizations to facilitate suitable treatment to those injured and ensure their security and safety.

The leadership said these detainees are not criminals involved in any offence but they represent political aspiration of their nation and added that subjecting detainees to physical torture, reflects the sectarian mindset of authorities.

Terming it as ‘a slur for Indian authorities’ the JRL added that “it won’t break our resolve.”

Guest