Srinagar, August 03 (KNO) : Hurriyat Conference (M) Saturday expressed grave concern over the press conference by JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik’s family regarding his fast deteriorating health in New Delhi’s Tihar jail, stating that the revelations about Malik’s health and solitary confinements made by his family members has raised serious apprehensions about the life and welfare of the senior leader.
In a statement issued to KNO, the amalgam said that that it is the responsibility of jail authorities to address the health issues of incarcerated Malik and to provide him with adequate medical aid as he is already suffering from multiple ailments and due to prolonged incarceration and absence of medical aid, has turned frail and weak.
Hurriyat (M) said that in view of his worsening health, he should be released on humanitarian grounds forthwith. Other leaders lodged in Tihar Jail since more than two years which include Shabir Ahmad Shah, Advocate Shahidul Islam, Altaf Ahmed Shah, Ayaz Akbar, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, Peer Saifullah, Raja Mehrajudin Kalwal, Farooq Ahmed Dar, Syed Shahid Yousuf, Shakeel Ahmed, Asiya Andrabi, Nahida Nasreen, Fehmeeda Sofi, are also being punished for their political outlook, their detention is being prolonged on one or the other pretexts, the statement added.
Hurriyat (M) said there are dozens of Kashmiri prisoners lodged within and outside state jails, deprived of basic facilities in jails especially medical care and are meted out ill-treatment. It said that despite clear directions from the Indian Supreme Court and other courts that calls for lodging prisoners in jails close to their homes, these prisoners were shifted outside the state.
Hurriyat (M) urged Indian and international rights bodies to take note of this serious issue and to conduct a visit to all jails where Kashmiris are lodged and to press New Delhi for their release.(KNO)