Mehbooba writes to PM, seeks release of political prisoners

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Friday made a fervent written appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for release of all J&K’s political prisoners

languishing in outside jails, in view of worsening COVID-19 situation.

   

“Throughout the world, most countries have released prisoners on parole in view of the alarming COVID crisis. A democratic and civilised country like India shouldn’t drag its feet and must release these detainees immediately so that they can return home at a time when life feels so threatened,” Mehbooba said in her letter to the PM.

Mufti said she did not wish to “politicise the human tragedy that has befallen us all”. 

“It’s an unprecedented humanitarian crisis that doesn’t discriminate on the basis of caste, colour, religion or social status and has affected everyone. Perhaps the only silver lining in this tragic time is how Indians cutting across religious and regional lines are coming together to lend each other a helping hand,” Mehbooba wrote in the letter.

Mehbooba said worrying reports about prisoners “dying” due to COVID-19 and “subsequent lack of medical attention have been trickling in”.

“At a time when the system is struggling to cope with this horrendous situation, lives of prisoners may be the least priority,” Mehbooba said.

“As far as Kashmir is concerned, it is no secret that hundreds, or may be thousands of detainees and political prisoners arrested since August 2019 continue to languish in jails both in and outside J&K” the letter stated. 

In the letter, Mehbooba mentioned the recent demise of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Chairman Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai in a Jammu hospital.

“Most of them are detained under preventive laws and don’t face any prosecution. Many continue to be held even after courts granted them bail. Most recent reminder of the lurking threat to their lives is Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai’s death who lost his life because he contracted COVID in jail and was deprived of medical care,” Mehbooba said in the letter.

The PDP president hoped that the Prime Minister will give due consideration to the matter and order the release of detainees.

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