MLAs 'concerned' over condition of Kashmiri prisoners in other jails

Legislators in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly on Wednesday expressed concern over the plight of Kashmiri prisoners lodged in different jails of the country and urged the government to press for their relocation to jails in the Union Territory and facilitate meetings with their family members.

They stated that the condition of Hurriyat leader Shabir Shah is extremely critical and his family members have reached out to everyone seeking relief.

“Shabir Shah is suffering in jail as per his family members. They met me and were distraught. There are other prisoners in similar condition whose condition is miserable,” CPI (M) MLA, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami said in the assembly. He urged the J&K government to impress upon the central government to take a humanitarian view of the plight of Kashmiri prisoners, including Shah.


“If you want to keep them in jail as per legal requirements, they should be shifted to jails in J&K. Rights of detainees, especially to meet their families is universally accepted, even in the worst of regimes,” Tarigami said.

People’s Conference legislator from Handwara in northern Kashmir, Sajad Lone, said Shah was not “a militant but a politician with a different ideology”.

“He has remained in jail for most of his life. His condition is worsening. He cannot even get up on his own or take care of himself in jail. We may not be able to interfere, but expressing concern cannot be a crime or against the law,” said Lone.

He also questioned the silence of the Assembly on the matter, asking, “Then what about this Assembly? We talk about Kashmiri nationalism and Jammu nationalism, but when one of our own people are suffering, we remain quiet,” said Lone adding, “the government should find a way to express concern over Shah’s condition through proper channels”.

Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq urged the authorities to shift Shah to his home and convert his house into a jail so that he can get medical attention without delay.

“This has alarmed me and I once again fervently appeal to the central government to show compassion and, on humanitarian grounds, release Shah or at least as per the family’s request, put him under arrest at home where at least he will be taken care of,” said Mirwaiz, who also expressed similar concern about Yasin Malik’s health. Shah’s family has written a detailed letter about his condition to the authorities.

“Reports about the worsening health and harsh conditions of other Kashmiri political detainees and youth lodged in various jails within and outside J&K are equally worrying. This is a matter of human concern and compassion which is above political considerations and ideologies,” said Mirwaiz.

He urged the elected representatives of J&K assembly to unite on this issue and play their role, especially the ruling party, in securing the release and relief for the Kashmiri prisoners “suffering incarceration and jail under draconian laws”.