Advocate Zahid Ali, others shifted to Jammu Jail

SRINAGAR — Authorities on Thursday shifted Advocate Zahid Ali along with dozens of prisoners from Central Jail Srinagar to Kot Bhalwal Jammu.

Family sources said that Zahid Ali was re-arrested on June 30 this year after being summoned by Police Station Kakapora and was later booked under stringent law, Public Safety Act (PSA) before being shifted to Central Jail Srinagar.

They said on Thursday wee hours, he along with other two dozen inmates has been moved to Kot Bhalwal Jammu.

They said, as per the norms, jail authorities should have communicated the decision to family before shifting him to Jammu but again the State resorted to violation of a fundamental right of a prisoner.

“In wake of COVID-19 pandemic and rising temperatures, we have apprehensions about his health condition. How could we manage to meet him there when there is complete lockdown enforced,” family said.

Notably, prior to ban on Jama’at by Ministry of Home Affairs in February 2019, Ali was detained from his Nehama residence in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on February 22. However, he remained incarcerated for over a year and was released in April 2020 after court quashed his back to back PSAs.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Central Jail Srinagar Tej Ram Katoch also confirmed the shifting and said 21 inmates have been moved to Kot Bhalwal Jail.