Srinagar, Feb 19: Chairman Hurriyat (G), Syed Ali Geelani has warned the government of serious consequences if “political prisoners” incarnated at the Srinagar Central Jail are shifted to jails outside the Valley.
“Hurriyat will not remain silent over this unjustified and unnecessary step,” Geelani said, according to a statement issued here.
The Hurriyat chairman expressed deep concern that government was planning to shift detainees on large scale from central jail Srinagar to Jammu jails.
“In this connection 23 detainees have been shifted since February 1,” said Geelani.
Quoting relatives of inmates, Geelani said that a list of more detainees has been “prepared and they have been asked without any justification to be ready for the shifting,” Geelani alleged.
“Those who have been shifted include Khursheed Ahmad Lone, Irfan Ahmad Khan, Gowher Ahmad Sheikh, Riyaz Ahmad Mir, Umer Rashid Want, Nisar Ahmad Lone, Mushtaq Ahmad Malla, Meraj-u-Din Nanda, Suhail Ahmad Sheikh, Shabir Ahmad Mir, Seerat ul Hassan, Mufti Abdul Ahadand Feroz Ahmad Dar toKuthwa, Hira Nagarand Udhampur, statement added.
“The detainees are being shifted primarily due to political vendetta. The main motive behind this move is to subject the detainees to physical and mental agony so that they will relinquish their mission,” Geelani said, adding that the decision is unconstitutional as according to a ruling by Supreme Court, detainees should be lodged in places where their relatives can easily meet them with ease and without wasting much time.
Geelani expressed deep anguish and concern over the miserable plight of illegally detained Kashmiris lodged in different jails saying the inmates were being ill-treated and subjected to mental and physical torture in jails. He said that the detainees in Jails were deprived of medical treatment.
“We have reports that youth belonging to Kashmir Valley are being targeted and subjected to the worst treatment. The unavailability of medicines and medical care and substandard quality of food is taking a toll on their health,” he said.
Syed Ali Geelani termed as “state terrorism” the slapping of 5th Public Safety Act (PSA) on Mohammad Assad ullah Parey, saying “It is highly condemnable.”
Geelani appealed the ICRC, Asia Watch, Amnesty International and other Human Rights Organizations to come to the rescue of these detainees and take notice of this lawlessness and added that these agencies must raise their voice against the unabated use of PSA by state authorities in the occupied state and asked to devote their attention towards this injustice with the detainees and take up this issue with authorities.
Syed Ali Geelani asked people to provide every possible support to effected families and those detained during ongoing freedom movement.
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