Bilal Handoo
SRINAGAR
Addressing a press conference nearly after three months, Syed Ali Geelani, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) Saturday demanded that political prisoners of Kashmir languished in different Indian jails should be immediately shifted to valley jails, keeping in view the recent assaults on inmates in Indian and Pakistani jails.
“Political prisoners of Kashmir lodged in different Indian jails are not criminals,” Geelani told reporters in the lawn of his Hyderpora residence. “They (political prisoners) have been booked to express their sentiments for the genuine cause, so they can’t be treated as criminals and must be put in separate jails closer to home.”
The separatist leader, who has been put under house arrest since his return from Delhi, expressed anguish over the death of Indian prisoner, Sarabhjit Singh in Pakistani jail and also condemned fatal assault on Pakistani inmate in Kotbalwal jail. “Both these incidents are unfortunate and condemnable. Such incidents have resulted due to extra-judicial killing of Afzal Guru,” he said.
He informed that he is writing letters to the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan for the security of inmates in their jails. “I appeal government of both nations to take measures to stop these prison attacks immediately by increasing jail security,” he said.
Geelani, who was flanked by his party members claimed, that a fatal attack on Pakistani inmate in Kotbalwal jail is a “deliberate act”. “This plot was hatched by the police superintendent (SP) of Kotbalwal jail, Rajni Sehgal, who had previously terrorized jail inmate in this jail,” he said. “We demand a case of murder should be filed against her.”
On the occasion, Geelani appealed the global human rights bodies, Amnesty International, Asia watch and others to take a notice on the plight of jail inmates across the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
