With their detention entering into its eight month on Thursday, the jailed mainstream politicians including three former J&K Chief Ministers spend their time in confinement either in prayers or reading, sources have revealed.
Some are maintaining their exercise regimen to maintaintheir physique, while some politicians pass off their time watching televisionto ascertain current affairs.
Three senior politicians – Ali Muhammad Sagar of NationalConference, Naeem Akhtar and SartajMadni of Peoples Democratic Party – detainedunder Public Safety Act at M-5 on Gupkar Road pass their time reading andwatching television. “It is Sagar sahib among the trio who is reading Islamicliterature. They pray five times a day. Sometimes they pray together. They alsohave a regular chat,” said an official source.
They live in three separate rooms at the accommodation whichhas some eight rooms. “Due to paucity of space at M-5, they walk around in therooms. Sometimes, they move outside in the garden,” he said.
“All the three detained politicians at M-5 are diabetic andare taken extra care of. We have kept doctor available to them as per jailmanual. Besides, a team of doctors from SKIMS visits them for regularcheck-up,” the official added.
Meters away from M-5, Omar Abdullah is detained atHariNiwas, the palace of erstwhile Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh. The formerJ&K Chief Minister is also into reading. “He does a rigorous workout andfollows a strict diet,” he said.
“Omar begins his day with exercise. He jogs in the lawn ofHariNiwas. Besides, he reads a lot. These days he is reading contemporaryfiction,” he said.
“Omar’s food comes from his home. It is brought regularly byhis butler and is thoroughly checked before being allowed in. He is particularabout his diet.”
He said junior Abdullah routinely takes a nap for two tothree hours after taking his lunch. “He misses his pet dogs,” the officialsaid.
Nearby, Omar’s father and Parliamentarian Dr Farooq Abdullahdetained at his residence on the Gupkar under PSA is also into praying. “DrSahib has turned into an ardent namazi. Besides, he reads Quran and alsoencourages his security personnel around to offer Namaz,” said an official.
Another lot of three politicians including bureaucrat-turnedpolitician Shah Faesal, NC’s Hilal Rather and PDP’s PeerzadaMansoor detainedunder PSA at MLA Hostel are also into praying.
An official said, ” Faesal reads a lot. Each week, a new lotof books is brought to him by his relatives. He also takes a stroll regularly.”
“The detained politicians are provided meat dishes thrice aweek, while two vegetable dishes and pulse dish is routinely provided to them,”the official added.
On the MA Road, the last Chief Minister of erstwhile J&KState, Mehbooba Mufti, has been detained at House No. 6 near Transport Yard.”She prays and watches television. Besides, she has long chats withher family wheneverthey come to meet her. She turns emotional whenever her mother comes for ameeting,” said an official.