Jailed leader Shabbir Shah presented before court handcuffed
Court asks jail authorities not 'unnecessarily' handcuff Shah
Jammu: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, a court in Jammu has directed jail authorities to ensure that senior APHC leader Shabbir Ahmad Shah is not unnecessarily handcuffed while being taken from Central Jail Kot Bhalwal to hospital or court.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Special Judge NIA Court Jammu Prem Sagar passed the directions on August 18 while disposing of an application filed by the 74-year-old undertrial who cited severe health issues.
“As per the medical report… the accused is of advanced age of 74 years and suffering from several ailments. The jail authorities shall follow the rules as per jail manual while taking him to hospital or court from jail and ensure that accused be not unnecessarily handcuffed and he shall be escorted by sufficient security personnel to guard him,” the judge said in a four-page order.
Shah cited hypertension, diabetes, cervical and lumbar spondylitis, bilateral inguinal hernia, osteoarthritis and coronary artery disease, and argued that handcuffing could cause him pain and further endanger his health.
Shah was arrested by the NIA in April in connection with a 1996 case.
The arrest came shortly after he was released on bail after nearly seven years in jail in other NIA cases.
The NIA filed a chargesheet in the case on July 10, 2026. Shah, along with Shakeel Ahmad Bakshi and Javid Ahmad Mir, have been chargesheeted as accused.
