APHC demands release of detainees in and outside UT

SRINAGAR — All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) headed by incarcerated chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq reiterated its call to release all political prisoners in jails in J&K and elsewhere in India.

According to a statement issued here, APHC said that thousands of Kashmiris are languishing in jails including Hurriyat leaders and activists, young boys, journalists, lawyers and traders and ordinary Kashmiris on one or the other fictitious charge in Tihar, Agra, Kot Balwal, Jodhpur, Amphalla, Haryana jails.

“Neither are they being tried in courts nor any legal proceedings initiated. Their arbitrary detention is just being prolonged. Many among the prisoners are those who are being detained even after serving their sentences,” the statement said.

The statement said, “The mental and physical condition of many among the prisoners is a matter of concern, while the fear of contracting the COVID-19 virus in cramped up spaces of jail is a constant fear among the prisoners and their families.”

APHC said that all political prisoners should be released including those under arbitrary house detentions. It appealed to human rights groups, civil society, members of legal fraternity both in India and outside to raise its voice against these ‘targeted’ detentions.

APHC said the atmosphere of fear, intimidation, unaccountability and uncertainty pervades every sphere of life in J&K to silence dissent and demands. “In such a situation, one has to be patient but not lose hope,” it added.

APHC said that it stands firm on its principles and rights of the people of J&K. It also demands the immediate release of its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who is under house arrest since August last year.

It said that most newspapers do not carry its statements to the public which is very unfortunate.