State
Tihar jail authorities defy court orders, deny Geelani’s son-in-law medical treatment
Srinagar, Feb 01: The health condition of a Kashmiri Hurriyat leader Altaf Ahmad Shah arrested by National Investigation Agency (NIA) in May 2017 in the alleged terror funding case, is deteriorating in Tihar Jail, Delhi.
Despite court orders, the jail authorities are not letting Shah to go for a proper medical checkup, his family alleges.
“My father is a diabetic patient and is hypertensive. Around 3 months ago, a cyst had developed on his feet. If an immediate medical procedure is not done then it may lead to serious implications resulting in permanent damage. The court had given him permission to go for a medical checkup but the jail authorities kept delaying it,” says Shah’s daughter Ruwa Shah in a statement to media adding, “We wanted to get him checked at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences but now they have taken him to some local hospital. He needs a proper endocrinologist.”
Altaf Ahmad Shah, alias Altaf Fantosh, son-in-law of Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, is set to visit the doctor on February 9 now.
One more inmate arrested in this case Peer Saifullah had recently fallen in the jail washroom. “He has a brain tumour. The least the court can do is grant an interim bail to the inmates who are suffering like this,” says Ruwa believing that the case progress is unnecessarily being delayed by the authorities.
On May 16, 2017 a Delhi-based news channel India Today aired a sting operation by the name “Operation: Villains of the Valley-The Hurriyat Tapes” in which the accused leaders including Nayeem Khan can be seen allegedly admitting that Pakistan funds the Hurriyat. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India started investigating upon and questioning the accused leaders and some prime suspects. The questioning of the suspects continues, ‘despite their deteriorating health and lack of evidence against them’.
Eight Kashmiris were arrested, booked under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 and alleged money laundering offences by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Enforcement Directorate (ED). They were sent to Tihar. There are eight jails in Tihar and each jail has two wards: General and High Risk. The most dangerous/ notorious criminals get placed in the High-risk ward. It’s where the Kashmiri inmates have been imprisoned. Among the other criminals there, Kashmiris never felt safe and had written a letter to DG Prisons on April 30th 2018 requesting him to keep them separate from other inmates.
The case was once transferred from the court of Additional Sessions Judge Justice Tarun Sehrawat to District and Sessions Judge (DSJ) Poonam A Bamba. With the transfer, the case status was back at square one.
“It has been around a year and a half. With the 13 thousand page charge sheet filed against them, nothing has been proved in the court yet,” says Ruwa adding that the way sometimes the judge is on leave, lawyers don’t come or hearing is adjourned before their lawyer speaks.
“Letting them suffer medically and delaying their treatments is only a way of authorities to make them stay in the jail,” she lamented.
Srinagar, Jun 20: Member Parliament from South Kashmir parliamentary constituency Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi Thursday said that Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) have started their reunion with the majority Muslim population in Kashmir as the leading schools and trading outlets have become venues of major attraction for Muslims in Kashmir valley.
Talking to media over phone from Delhi Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi while referring to his encounter with the top BJP leader Subrahmanyam Swamy during a conclave on Kashmir issue at Hotel Shangrila in Delhi said, “I have a strong case to claim that Kashmiri pandits have started their reunion with Kashmiri Muslims almost two decades back and the process of their reunion with Muslims in Kashmir has almost come to a full circle as the biggest school in valley DPS Athwajan in the outskirts of Srinagar is the biggest attraction of school admissions for majority Muslim population and the two leading drugs outlets “Bindroo Medicate” and “Dhar Medicate” have become the flourishing drug retailing outlets in Srinagar.
He said the medicine not found anywhere in valley is easily available at Bindroo medicate near Iqbal Park and Dhar medicate near Lul Ded Hospital Srinagar.
Referring to the opening of one more business outlet by a Kashmiri Pandit on his return to Maisuma area Srinagar in uptown Srinagar during the just concluded holy month of Ramadan, the former High Court Judge turned top law maker Justice Masoodi said, “the opening of one more trade outlet in Maisuma area of Srinagar during the just concluded holy month of Ramadan was a demonstration of increasing reunion of Kashmiri Pandits with the Muslims in valley as dates were put on display for whole month at this trade outlet for Muslims by a Kashmiri Pandit as a mark of good will gesture on his return to Srinagar. Don’t forget Muslims eat dates to break their fasts during holy month of Ramadan.”
He said that with Kashmiri Pandits increasingly becoming part of education and health care facilities in Srinagar, people in rest of the country must accept the reality that Pandits returning to Kashmir are welcomed arms open and run their lives freely without any fear or intimidation. Justice (Retd.) Masoodi emerged as the giant killer of 2019 parliamentary elections in Jammu & Kashmir as he defeated PDP President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti by a convincing margin of near 10,000 votes from South Parliamentary constituency a stronghold of Mufti’s Peoples Democratic Party for almost two decades now.
Srinagar, Jun 20: With light rains continued to occur in most parts of the Valley, the Meteorological department here on Thursday said that intermittent light to moderate rainfall will continue to occur in the Valley for next couple of days.
However, the officials in MeT department said that they have not predicted any heavy downpour for next upcoming five days but there is possibility of intermittent light to moderate rains at isolated places.
Deputy Director MeT, Mukhtar Ahmad told local news agency that the weather conditions will improve on June 21 and 22 but intermittent light to moderate rainfall would occur at isolated places on June 22 and 23.
He said that MeT has not predicted any heavy downpour in the next five days, adding that the flood like situation won’t arise as the intensity of rainfall would be low.
Notably, the light rainfall accompanied by gusty lashed some areas in northern Kashmir today.
Earlier, reports quoting the Indian Meteorological department (IMD) stated that there will be heavy rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir for the next five days from tomorrow.
Pertinently, the water level in river Jhelum and other streams here increased due to the frequent rainfall in last couple of days. On June 12, the water was flowing above the flood declaration level following which the Government had declared flood alert in Srinagar and South Kashmir areas.
Reports said that Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department Kashmir had warned the people residing along the embankments of the river Jhelum, streams and low lying areas of south Kashmir and Srinagar to remain vigilant. However, Chief Engineer I&FC, Ashok Kumar Sharma said that there was no need panic, saying in case any such situation arises, the department is well equipped and well prepared to tackle the situation.
Ganderbal, June 20: Advisor to Governor, K. Vijay Kumar, Chief Secretary, BVR Subramanyam along with Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan and Chief Executive Officer SASB, Umang Narula Thursday visited Baltal Base Camp where they chaired a meeting to review the arrangements being put in place for the smooth conduct of ensuing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2019 via Baltal route.
The meeting was attended by DGP, IGP, DIG Police, IGP, DIG CRPF, SSP Ganderbal, ADDC Ganderbal, ADC, Chief Engineers PDD, PHE, R&B & I&FC, Labour Commissioner, Director Health Kashmir, Director Information & Public Relations, representatives of SASB, officials from Army, SDRF besides other concerned district officers.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan apprised the meeting regarding the arrangements being put in place by concerned departments associated with Yatra for smooth conduct of the annual pilgrimage via Baltal. He gave a detailed overview of teams constituted like Camp Inspection Team, Contingency Plan, Communication Plan, registration of service providers, Disaster Management unit, etc.
The meeting also reviewed the status of completion of track up-gradation works on Baltal route up to Holy Cave, improvements at the access control gates, establishment of camps, shelter sheds, medical camps and Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) at various locations, provision of drinking water supply, lighting, availability of essential commodities, Medicine and mobile connectivity besides establishment of Joint Control Rooms.
While reviewing the status of track, it was informed that 14.2 km track from Baltal to Holy Cave is already through besides wire meshing and railing is almost completed. It was also decided that final audit of the track shall be done on June 28, 2019.
Meanwhile, SSP Ganderbal also presented a detailed presentation regarding the security arrangements. After thorough discussion on security plan, the Advisor directed all the concerned security agencies to ensure that all necessary security arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Yatra are made well in time. He also stressed on holding joint meetings for better coordination.
With regard to installation of signages, the Div Com informed that from Pantha Chowk to Manigam, the installation of signages is completed and from Manigam onwards the installation work is in progress and shall be completed within a few days. On the occasion, Chief Secretary directed that signages should be displayed at prominent locations for guiding Yatris.
For ensuring clean and hygienic toilet facilities to yatris, the meeting was informed that at the identified transit camps toilet facilities would be increased pursuant to the decision taken in the previous meeting besides face-lifting, water connections, electricity and drainage is ensured at the identified locations.
Both Advisor and Chief Secretary directed all the concerned Departments for ensuring proper quality sanitation facility at every camp location and maintaining cleanliness of entire track en-route to the Holy Cave. They stressed to ensure decomposition of wastes through Solid Waste Management.