Delay in Shifting force prisoners to go on indefinite hunger strike at CJ Srinagar

Srinagar: Prisoners in the Central Jail Srinagar have gone on an indefinite hunger strike protesting undue shifting of some inmates to jails in Jammu, poor food quality, denial of medical aid and delay in their trials.

According family members of many inmates in the sprawling Srinagar jail, prison conditions have significantly worsened since the dramatic escape of top Lashkar-e-Toiba commander NaveedJatt on February 6. Jatt alias Abu Hanzala, who was lodged in the Srinagar Central Jail, escaped when he was brought handcuffed to SMHS hospital in the city after killing two policemen.

A source in the prison confirmed inmates were refusing to take food and they have conveyed it to the jail authorities why they were on hunger strike.

Family members of inmates say the jail has turned into a “hell” since Jatt’s escape.

“I had heard about Abu Gharib and Guntanamo, but after seeing the condition of prisoners at central Jail Srinagar, I don’t think there can be any other worst jail in the world,” said Abdur Rashid, whose son is languishing in the Central Jail.

Rashid met his imprisoned son two weeks earlier and came to know that majority of the prisoners were given “food which doesn’t even digest properly.”

“My son told me the jail authorities also treat prisoners like animals and not even basic medical care like medicine for backache, headache, vomiting and indigestion is being provided,” he said, adding he came to know from parents of other inmates that almost all the prisoners have gone for an indefinite hunger strike.

However, superintendent of the Central Jail Srinagar, Mukesh Kumar Kakar said no prisoner was on hunger strike.

“Langer is on and food is being cooked for inmates,” Kakar told Greater Kashmir, declining to elaborate further.

But other relatives of inmates echo similar issues as described by Rashid.

Father of another prisoner, languishing in the jail since six years, said he was told by his son the strike was genuine and against the issues that include unjustified shifting of prisoners to Jammu and jails outside the state.

“My son told me all the prisoners are provided with poor quality food and medical aid is totally denied, he said, declining to be identified fearing reprisal for himself and his imprisoned son.

“He (son) also told me that most of the prisoners are denied proper trial, and aren't being produced in their respective courts.”

A source in the jail said three prisoners were shifted to Jammu recently without any solid reason or any fault of theirs.

“Their only fault was that they raised voice against the ill treatment meted out to the prisoners. They demanded trial on their due dates and hygienic food if not high quality,” the source said.

Soon after Jatt staged his escape a thorough security review of jails across the state was conducted and it was found that Central Jail Srinagar was the most unsafe prison for its old walls which have not been repaired since long.

The review committee led by the then director general of prisons, Dilbagh Singh later ordered shifting of high risk prisoners that include Dr Muhammad Qasim and Muhammad ShafiShearti.

Both were later shifted to jails in Jammu.

Another source said that at least 20 prisoners were gradually shifted from Central Jail Srinagar in a phased manner since March this year.

One of the security measures ordered by Singh was to ban medical treatment of prisoners in various Srinagar hospitals and instead treat them at police hospital in the city.