Srinagar: Kashmir Traders & Manufacturers Federation(KTMF) has sought immediate release of its President Mohammad Yaseen Khan who is languishing in Agra Central Jail since August 5 on health grounds.
Khan who also heads Kashmir Economic Alliance(KEA) is a senior citizen and underlying with multiple illnesses like hypertension, asthma & breathlessness issues which makes him susceptible to COVID-19. In a statement issued here by the acting President KTMF Manzoor Ah Bhat said, we are in midst of horrible medical emergency and health care systems all over the globe are surrendering, thus urge the government of India to consider the immediate release of Mohammad Yaseen Khan along with many other political detainees lodged in various jails across India.
Bhat said, “various medical studies suggest that prisons can become fertile breeding grounds for incubation thus viruses such as COVID-19 proliferate in closed spaces such as prisons. Also prison inmates are highly prone to contagious viruses and several correctional officers and other prison staff , relatives of prisoners & lawyers enter the prisons regularly making prisoners highly vulnerable to this deadly disease.”
Expressing serious concern in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak that has gripped the entire world, KTMF acting President Manzoor Bhat urged that “isolation is the best possible way to avoid infection and appealed to consider his request for the release on humanitarian grounds.”
Pertinent to mention Mohammad Yaseen Khan has been lodged in Agra Central Jail since Article 370 was scrapped on August 5 last year.
Bhat said Government must restore uninterrupted 4G internet services to ensure that people have access to health and safety related information regarding COVID-19. He said restrictions on content and dissemination of information only stand to add to the panic therefore making it necessary to restore 4G services across Valley.

KR Desk