Home Ministry Concerned About Tihar Torture

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SrinagarUnion Home Minister Rajnath Singh has directed the jail authorities across India to ensure safety of prisoners and the jail inmates do not face any torture.

The Union Home Minister has taken the cognizance of reports about torture of Kashmiri prisoners in Tihar Jail New Delhi.

The directions have gone to all jail authorities across India to ensure that prisoners do not face any torture and are treated humanely, local news agency KNS quoted an official in the Ministry of Home Affairs as saying.

The official said that directions have also been issued to jail authorities across India to review the security arrangements in the high security prisons and taken necessary measures wherever needed.

They have been directed to ensure safety of Kashmiri prisoners as they remain vulnerable to attacks in outside jails, sources said.

At least 18 prisoners were reportedly thrashed by the jail authorities including the Tamil Nadu Special Force, in high risk ward (C&F) at Tihar Jail.

The Union Home Ministry has also sought a report from the Director General of Tihar jail in the wake of the torture of Kashmiri inmates in the prison, leading to severe injuries.

The ministry has asked the Director General of the Tihar jail to submit a report as early as possible detailing the incident and the action taken so far.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mehbooba also spoke with Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba to enquiring about the Tihar incident.

Mufti spoke to Gauba after photographs of injured Kashmiri undertrials surfaced on social media sites here.

A prison is considered to be the safest place but the alleged incidents that have come to light put a question mark on it, she said in a statement.

The mainstream parties and separatists have also expressed concern over an attack on Kashmiri prisioners in Tihar jail.

Meanwhile, a Kashmir lawyers body said that a committee of High Court Judicial Officer constituted by Delhi Hight Court has confirmed that eighteen prisoners including Shahid Yousuf, son of Hizb chief Syed Salah-ud-din, were beaten by the prison staff ruthlessly without any rhyme or reason in Tihar jail.

The lawyers body appreciated the concern shown by the Division Bench of Delhi High Court for describing the matter very serious requiring a serious probe and asking the Medical Superintendent, All India Medical Institute, to set up a Board for conducting the medical test of all the 18 prisoners, who were thrashed by the jail authorities including the Tamil Nadu Special Force, in high risk ward (C&F).

Mehbooba Should Herself Visit Tihar: Dr Farooq

While reacting over the torture inflicted upon Kashmiri prisoners in Indias Tihar Jail, National Conference Patron Dr Farooq Abdullah Wednesday said that mere ringing to Home Secretary is not enough.

Pertinently, Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti called Indian Home Minister on phone and requested him to conduct a probe about torture incidents.

Dr Farooq Abdullah said that it is Mehbooba Mufti who has dragged these Kashmiri prisoners inside Tihar Jail.

Mehbooba got these prisoners shifted to Tihar and now she is showing concern about their miseries. Being the Chief Minister, Mehbooba should herself visit Tihar Jail and if she feels, Kashmiri prisoners are in wretched condition, she should use her good offices and get these prisoners shifted to Kashmir, Abdullah said.

Punish Culprits: Mir, Tarigami

Kashmir legislator and CPI (M) leader Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami has asked Jammu Kashmir Government to intervene effectively to safeguard the prisoners languishing outside state jails.

We condemn the torture inflicted upon Kashmiri prisoners in Tihar jail, Tarigami told news agency CNS.

Former Minister and Chairman Democratic Party Nationalist Ghulam Hasan Mir termed it unacceptable. It is totally wrong and unacceptable. Government Forces deputed in jails to protect prisoners should not indulge in such kind of heinous crime. People at the helm of affairs should seek probe into the incident and culprits should be booked, Mir said.

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