Members of High Court Bar Association found many prisoners inside the Central Jail Srinagar “tense”, “terrified” and “subdued” following recent violence inside the prison.
Senior members of HCBA Srinagar visited the prison Thursdayevening to inquire about the condition of inmates following a violentconfrontation with security forces on April 5.
Their visit came after directions by the chief judicialmagistrate, Srinagar, to jail authorities to permit and facilitate the visit ofthe HCBA members to the jail.
“They (jail inmates) feel that they will not be allowed anyopportunity of proving their innocence before any enquiry officer which may beordered in the matter or in the court of law. They feel they may be shifted tosome jail outside the state so as to prolong their trial and detention injail,” the HCBA report says.
The prisoners have demanded the whole incident of April 5 beenquired by the High Court and be supervised by a sitting judge.
The HCBA report says the prisoners also demand the FIRregistered against them by the jail authorities is “an attempt to victimizethem (and) should not be allowed to be investigated until the enquiry iscompleted by the High Court.”
The inmates also want they should be allowed to file acounter FIR and the members of International Red Cross, SHRC, IHRC, AmnestyInternational and Asia Watch be allowed to visit the jail at the earliest”before the evidence available on the spot is destroyed”.
“They stated that if their demands are not met some of themare ready to commit suicide inside the jail, the responsibility of which shallbe solely on the jail authorities (sic),” the HCBA team reported.
The team found that after the April 5 incident there hasbeen a communication breakdown between the inmates and the jail administration.
“For the last ten days, the inmates are not meeting any ofthe visitors or relatives. The inmates are also not being provided anynewspaper or access to any media like TV or radio. They had also refused tocome out and meet some lawyers.”
“The inmates, who were 15 in number, met the Bar team, weretense, terrified and somewhat subdued,” the report reads.
According to the HCBA report, 17-year-old Abid Kachrureceived pellet injuries in his eyes during security forces action inside jailand had to be operated upon days later by doctors.
Another inmate, Mukhtar Ahmad was seriously injured due tobeating and has been recommended for shoulder shaft replacement by the doctors.Jail inmates, as per report, have attributed the blaze inside the prison onApril 5 to “teargas shells fired by security forces.”
“The HCBA has decided to submit this report before the chiefjudicial magistrate Srinagar on 13 April 2019,” advocate Aijaz Bedar, vicepresident HCBA told Greater Kashmir.
HCBA members who visited jail comprised bar vice presidentAijaz Bedar, general secretary Muhammad Ashraf Bhat, joint secretary, AdilAsimi and executive members Rafiq Ahmad Joo and Arshad Andrabi.