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Srinagar : With the spread of coronavirus, demand for releasing and shifting of Kashmiri prisoners to the valley grows.
Hundreds of Kashmiri men are under detention in Kashmir and various jails outside the valley. They were detained hours after Centre abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated J&K into two Union Territories on August 5.
“Our family is worried about my nephew who is in Agra Jail. All those who are detained in outside jails should be either shifted to Srinagar Jail or be released,” said Mohammad Altaf, a Srinagar resident.
Families of these detainees have also been expressing concern over the health of Kashmiri prisoners and how jails are prone to the pandemic. “We don’t know under what circumstances they are there. We appeal government to shift our children to Kashmir from outside jails,” a group of parents whose children are lodged in outside jails told Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
In a tweet, human rights activist Khurram Parvez said, “Kashmiri prisoners who are under preventive detention in various jails across India should be is released urgently. Preventive detention is other a HR violation but in the context of coronavirus, if anything happens to a single prisoner it will be state’s responsibility.”
Union minister G Kishan Reddy informed Parliament in December last year that 261 prisoners belonging to Jammu and Kashmir are currently lodged in different jails of Uttar Pradesh (234) and Haryana (27). Besides, he also said, 3248 prisoners are in jails in Jammu and Kashmir.
Iltija Mufti, daughter of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has written a letter to Lt. Governor G.C. Murmu demanding the release of Kashmiri prisoners in jails across the country.
“As you’re aware, thousands of Kashmiris. including my mother Ms. Mufti, ex-Chief Minister J&K have been jailed since 5th August. As the world prepares to battle the deadly COVID-19 (already declared a global pandemic by WHO), India in all likelihood has entered Stage 3 in which the virus spreads through community transmission. J&K has already reported four cases and the numbers will go up exponentially in the coming weeks,” letter reads.
She said, “Since no known medication/vaccination for COVID-19 existed as yet, self-isolation has emerged as the safest bet to fight the outbreak. Overcrowded jails and lack of healthcare therefore makes these detainees highly vulnerable to the deadly contagion.”
“It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that prisons all over India might become the new epicenter of this epidemic.”
Iltija Mufti further wrote: “Senior citizens over 65 and those with an underlying illness such as diabetes, hypertension and breathing issues are especially susceptible to COVID-19. There are hundreds of senior citizens from the valley battling multiple ailments across jails in the country. Some of these detainees come from humble families where the members haven’t been able to afford a single trip to visit their sons and brothers lodged in jails outside Kashmir. You can well imagine their anxiety and concern in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
“Keeping in mind the aforementioned circumstances, I would like to request you to release all detainees immediately and allow them to return home. At a time when jails even in USA are releasing inmates, one fails to understand reluctance of GOI in freeing detainees jailed for the past eight months on trumped up charges.
“We are in the midst of an extraordinary medical situation and healthcare systems all over the world are collapsing. I urge you to consider my request. I’m sure you will agree the collective health and well-being of each of these detainees overrides every other consideration/rationale for their detention,” letter reads.
National Conference president and Srinagar Member of Parliament Farooq Abdullah also demanded last week the shifting of prisoners before their ultimate release. Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also demanded their release on ‘humanitarian grounds’.
National Conference leader Hasnain Masoodi on Monday requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to direct revocation of detention orders against all the detainees lodged within and outside Jammu and Kashmir.
The former Jammu and Kashmir High Court judge in a letter to the Home Minister said that the detainees are detained without charge and trial on a mere suspicion under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and are lodged in Ambedkar Nagar, Agra, Tihar and other jails outside Jammu and Kashmir.
Citing the lockdown and restrictions imposed on travel and traffic to combat the COVID-19 crisis, Masoodi said it would make it impossible for the relatives to visit the detainees. And, resultantly they would be exposed to immense psychological distress and their valuable constitutional right defeated, Masoodi said.
“This apart, the detention as universally accepted, because of overcrowding is in conflict with social distancing a key response to COVID-19 crises. The detainees, otherwise held without charge or trial, against said backdrop, deserve to be released and the detention orders revoked,” the Lok Sabha MP said.(KINS)
Hundreds of Kashmiri men are under detention in Kashmir and various jails outside the valley. They were detained hours after Centre abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated J&K into two Union Territories on August 5.
“Our family is worried about my nephew who is in Agra Jail. All those who are detained in outside jails should be either shifted to Srinagar Jail or be released,” said Mohammad Altaf, a Srinagar resident.
Families of these detainees have also been expressing concern over the health of Kashmiri prisoners and how jails are prone to the pandemic. “We don’t know under what circumstances they are there. We appeal government to shift our children to Kashmir from outside jails,” a group of parents whose children are lodged in outside jails told Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
In a tweet, human rights activist Khurram Parvez said, “Kashmiri prisoners who are under preventive detention in various jails across India should be is released urgently. Preventive detention is other a HR violation but in the context of coronavirus, if anything happens to a single prisoner it will be state’s responsibility.”
Union minister G Kishan Reddy informed Parliament in December last year that 261 prisoners belonging to Jammu and Kashmir are currently lodged in different jails of Uttar Pradesh (234) and Haryana (27). Besides, he also said, 3248 prisoners are in jails in Jammu and Kashmir.
Iltija Mufti, daughter of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has written a letter to Lt. Governor G.C. Murmu demanding the release of Kashmiri prisoners in jails across the country.
“As you’re aware, thousands of Kashmiris. including my mother Ms. Mufti, ex-Chief Minister J&K have been jailed since 5th August. As the world prepares to battle the deadly COVID-19 (already declared a global pandemic by WHO), India in all likelihood has entered Stage 3 in which the virus spreads through community transmission. J&K has already reported four cases and the numbers will go up exponentially in the coming weeks,” letter reads.
She said, “Since no known medication/vaccination for COVID-19 existed as yet, self-isolation has emerged as the safest bet to fight the outbreak. Overcrowded jails and lack of healthcare therefore makes these detainees highly vulnerable to the deadly contagion.”
“It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that prisons all over India might become the new epicenter of this epidemic.”
Iltija Mufti further wrote: “Senior citizens over 65 and those with an underlying illness such as diabetes, hypertension and breathing issues are especially susceptible to COVID-19. There are hundreds of senior citizens from the valley battling multiple ailments across jails in the country. Some of these detainees come from humble families where the members haven’t been able to afford a single trip to visit their sons and brothers lodged in jails outside Kashmir. You can well imagine their anxiety and concern in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
“Keeping in mind the aforementioned circumstances, I would like to request you to release all detainees immediately and allow them to return home. At a time when jails even in USA are releasing inmates, one fails to understand reluctance of GOI in freeing detainees jailed for the past eight months on trumped up charges.
“We are in the midst of an extraordinary medical situation and healthcare systems all over the world are collapsing. I urge you to consider my request. I’m sure you will agree the collective health and well-being of each of these detainees overrides every other consideration/rationale for their detention,” letter reads.
National Conference president and Srinagar Member of Parliament Farooq Abdullah also demanded last week the shifting of prisoners before their ultimate release. Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also demanded their release on ‘humanitarian grounds’.
National Conference leader Hasnain Masoodi on Monday requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to direct revocation of detention orders against all the detainees lodged within and outside Jammu and Kashmir.
The former Jammu and Kashmir High Court judge in a letter to the Home Minister said that the detainees are detained without charge and trial on a mere suspicion under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and are lodged in Ambedkar Nagar, Agra, Tihar and other jails outside Jammu and Kashmir.
Citing the lockdown and restrictions imposed on travel and traffic to combat the COVID-19 crisis, Masoodi said it would make it impossible for the relatives to visit the detainees. And, resultantly they would be exposed to immense psychological distress and their valuable constitutional right defeated, Masoodi said.
“This apart, the detention as universally accepted, because of overcrowding is in conflict with social distancing a key response to COVID-19 crises. The detainees, otherwise held without charge or trial, against said backdrop, deserve to be released and the detention orders revoked,” the Lok Sabha MP said.(KINS)
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