Srinagar, March 20 (KNO) : All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman, Syed Ali Geelani Tuesday expressed deep concern and anguish over the plight of detainees languishing in different jails in and outside of the valley. Citing the treatment meted out to detainees, lodged in outside state jails, Geelani said that on one pretext or the other they are harassed, intimidated and subjected to political vendetta.
Syed Ali Geelani said that political prisoners are ill-treated and humiliated, for their affiliation with freedom struggle and while quoting their families, added that in Udhampor jail , the detainees are mercilessly beaten and thrashed and later confined to cells and solitary confinement. Geelani quoting reports said that jail authorities treat them like that of criminals.
Lamenting at jail authorities , Geelani said that jail mates are assaulted, ill-treated and compelled to use dirty and unhygienic utensils for cooking and drinking purpose. Citing the treatment meted out to detainees including senior leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Ayaz Akbar, Peer Saif ullah, Nayem Ahmad Khan, Raja Meraj-u-Din Kalwal, Javed Ahmad Shah, Shahid Yusuf, Farooq Ahmad Dar, Zahoor Ahmad Watali, Shahid-ul-Islam, Mohammad Aslam Wani, arrested by NIA, Geelani said that they are nor even permitted to seek legal assistance and consult their lawyer.
Blaming jail authorities for their callous and inhuman approach against detainees, Geelani said that these political prisoners are ill-treated and humiliated by criminals lodged in these jails, saying that they are subjected to deprivation, medical treatment denied and the inmates are deprived of contact with their near and dear ones and also other basic needs are denied.”, Referring to Dr Mohammad Qasim Faktoo, Dr Shafi Shariati, Shakil Ahmad Yatoo, Raies Ahmad Mir ,Mohammad Yusuf Mir m M Rafiq Ganai ,Gh Mohd Khan Sopori, Mohd Ramzan Khan ,Farooq Tawheedi , Ab Samad Inqilabi and Assad ullah Parey, Syed Ali Geelani said that political prisoners are ill-treated and humiliated, for their affiliation with freedom struggle and while referring to recent episode wherein one detainee escaped from Srinagar Central jail, Geelani added that shifting jail mates to jails in far-flung areas is neither justified nor legal.
Geelani slammed authorities for their dictatorial and haughty attitude and added that despite the release orders, several detainees including Ameer Hamza Shah, Manzoor Ahmad Kaloo, Ab Gani Bhat, Mohd Ashraf Malik, Bashir Ahmad Qureshi, Aashiq Hussain Bhat, Manzoor Ahmad Najar, Basharat Ahmad Peer, Sajad Ahmad Bhat, Ab Ahad Mir, Mohammad Shaban Khan, Manzoor Ahmad Kaloo, Ab Gani Bhat, Ab Gafar Regu, Mohammad Ashraf Malik, Hakim u Rehman, Mohammad Suliman Wani, Nazir Ahmad Manto, Nazir Ahmad Khawja, Abrar Anitoo, Abid Kachroo, Javed Ahmad Fuley ,Lateef Ahmad Dar, Nazir Ahmad Mantoo, Ab Khaliq Regu, M Ashraf Malik, Mohd Subhan Wani, and scores of others were not released and still lodged in different police stations and their detention period is prolonged on one pretext or the other, saying that even when the prisoners lodged under the notorious PSA complete their term, police and related agencies are ready with another dossier to prolong their detention mostly under fictitious charges, thus prolong their detention period. Syed Ali Geelani while hailing the commitment and steadfastness of detainees asked ICRC, Asia Watch, Amnesty International and other Human Rights Organizations to come to the ‘rescue' of these detainees and impress India to treat detainees as per charter laid by international community.(KNO)