Shabir Shah is safe: DIG Tihar

Srinagar, Feb 24: Tihar prison authorities in Delhi have denied occurrence of any untoward incident or mishap involving its inmate, Hurriyat leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, DIG Tihar Prison Shailendra Parihar said on Sunday.

Refuting fake news circulating in a section of media, Parihar told news agency ANI that Shabir Shah was absolutely “fit and fine”.

He said all other inmates from J&K and Pakistan are also fine.

“The prison authorities appeal to all to be cautious against fake news,” he said.

Earlier, the daughter of Hurriyat leader Altaf Ahmad Shah said her father was injured after falling off accidentally in Tihar jail.

She said her father’s accident led to a rumour about the well-being of Shabir Shah.

“My father, Altaf Shah was injured yesterday in Tihar jail after a tile fell off the washroom wall and hit his head. This snowballed into a rumour about Shabir Shah because of the same surnames. Shabir Sb is fine. Altaf Sb has got a minor injury,” said Ruwa Shah on Twitter.

Shabir Shah’s spouse, Dr Bilquees Shah, however, told The Kashmir Monitor that Shah may have been attacked.

“Till Saturday, things were unclear but on Sunday morning, I was informed by my lawyer that attack has happened. The nature of the injury is not known,” she said.

Dr Bilquees Shah, who is in New Delhi for the last few days in connection with the hearing of his bail plea, said that she is worried about the well-being of her husband.

“I called my lawyer on Saturday morning, just to enquire about the attack but he thought I was calling in connection with the bail plea,” he said.

“The lawyer was already aware about the deferment as the judge was not available. The case is now listed for hearing on April 02,”she added.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP), of which Shah is the chairman, called a presser on Sunday.

It’s general secretary, Mohammad Abdullah Tari while condemning the “criminal silence” of government over the well-being of Shabir Shah said that they would “continue to fight for right to self-determination”.

He said that everyone from his family and his supporters are worried for him.

“We are all anxious about his well-being. The government has not come up with any kind of statement to clear the air. We will not succumb to any kind of pressure. We would keep on fighting for our goal,” he said.