Kashmiri prisoners endure extreme heat amid dire conditions in Indian jails
Srinagar: As India grapples with one of its harshest heatwaves in recent history, Kashmiri prisoners, detained under the stringent laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Public Safety Act on bogus charges, are facing perilous conditions in jails across India.
According to Kashmir Media Service, this year’s unprecedented heatwave has intensified the already severe plight of these prisoners, The Leaflet, an online Indian news portal, reported.
The Leaflet spoke to the family members of some undertrial Kashmiri prisoners lodged in Tihar Jail in Delhi, one of India’s more notorious facilities, since 2018 under the UAPA.
Families of Kashmiri detainees have reported alarming conditions. A 62-year-old female prisoner, suffering from asthma, arthritis, and respiratory ailments, has faced excruciating conditions due to the denial of requests for a cooler. Her son informed The Leaflet that the high-voltage lighting exacerbates the unbearable indoor temperatures, compelling prisoners to use wet towels and bedsheets to alleviate the heat.
Another case involves a prisoner with chronic back pain and knee disease, who has been further debilitated by inadequate bedding and poor sanitation. Her son shared that despite severe lumbar disc prolapse and osteoarthritic knee disease, she is forced to sleep on a bare floor due to the denial of proper bedding and medical mattresses. The extreme heat has exacerbated her condition, while ongoing issues with sanitation have led to recurrent urinary tract infections.
The Leaflet reported that ventilation in the prison barracks is grossly inadequate, compounding the already harsh temperatures. Access to cold drinking water remains sporadic and insufficient, adding to the prisoners’ discomfort and health risks.
Notably, among those enduring these harsh conditions are APHC Chairman Masarrat Aalam Butt, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, and women prisoners including Aasiya Andrabi, Fehmeeda Sofi, Naheeda Nasreen, Hina Bashir Beig and Raskeem Akhter. Other detainees include Ayaz Akbar, Pir Saifullah, Merajuddin Kalwal, Shahid-ul-Islam, Farooq Ahmed Dar, Syed Shahid Yousuf Shah, Syed Shakeel Yousuf Shah, Bashir Ahmad Pannu, human rights defender Khurram Parvaiz, journalist Irfan Mehraj, Mahmood Topi Wala, Khalid Mehboob Phalwan, Aamir Ahmed Gojri, and newly elected Indian MP Eng Rashid.
These individuals have been unjustly held in politically motivated cases, enduring inhumane treatment and denial of basic medical and legal facilities. Their suffering, exacerbated by the extreme heat, highlights a continued pattern of victimization for advocating their right to self-determination.
