Srinagar, November 28 (KNO) : Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik expressed serious concern over the plight of hundreds of Kashmiri prisoners lodged in Tihar and various jails in and outside the state stating that jail authorities are badly treating all these prisoners in complete violation of jail manual. Expressing serious concern over the reports of thrashing prisoners in Tihar jail, the joint leadership 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, the leadership 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 meeting with their wards. They even ignore the ruling of Supreme Court regarding prisoners wherein it has clearly directed state authorities to lodge detainees adjacent to their home cities’ ‘said leadership. Criticizing authorities for their “callous approach”, JRL said: “It is extreme state sponsored oppression and their tall claims and rhetoric about humanity and democracy are 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, said JRL.
Resistance leaders strongly 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 community. In their statement, 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, saying that the 18 accused were injured by Tamil Nadu Police, deputed in Tihar jail and added that Dr Gh Mohd Bhat, Ahtisham, Shazad Ahmad, Mohd Subhan, Ayaz Akbar, Raja Meraj u Din Kalwal, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Mohd Aslam Wani and Dr Waseem are lodged in same ward. Resistance 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. Resistance 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 and terming it as a slur for Indian authorities, added that it won’t break our resolve and will pursue freedom mission till its logical end.(KNO)