UN urged to pay heed to Amnesty’s report on Kashmiri detainees in India

COVID-19 can speedily spread in the prisons where Kashmiri inmates have been locked up, says AJK president

MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan has appreciated a demand of the Amnesty International-India for the immediate release of all Kashmiri prisoners from the Indian jails and restoration of 4G internet services in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K) in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The United Nations Security Council, UN Secretary General, the United Nations Human Rights Council and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) must intervene to secure release of all Kashmiri prisoners languishing in the Indian prisons,” the AJK president said in a statement issued by his office on Wednesday

Describing AI-India demand as timely and urgent, he pointed out that since the outbreak of novel coronavirus, families of the prisoners are highly worried about the health of their near and dear ones due to unhygienic conditions in Occupied Kashmir and Indian jails.

“The COVID-19 can speedily spread in the prisons where the Kashmiri inmates have been locked up," he warned while urging the international community particularly the United Nations, to take notice of the gruesome situation without any further delay.

AJK president urges Modi to release Kashmiri prisoners amid COVID-19 outbreak

While terming Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a stone-hearted ruler, President Masood said that under the garb of COVID-19, he had imposed further restrictions in the disputed valley and had stepped up the ethnic cleansing of the Kashmiri people.

At the same time, the AJK president reiterated the demand for restoration of basic civil liberties, freedom of expression and the healthcare facilities in the Himalayan region.

While expressing grave concern, he said that the spread of global pandemic in IOK is comparatively more than India and Pakistan because of the uncalled for curbs imposed by the Indian government. These restrictions, he went on to say, had almost blocked the access of the Kashmiri people to even basic health facilities.

He also condemned the Modi-led government and Indian media for quoting dubious figures about COVID-19 while pointing out that confirmation of “these figures through independent sources is not possible because of curbs on media”.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Amnesty International's India chapter after interviewing 255 people – including dozens of prisoners in the jails of India and disputed territory, journalists, lawyers and businessmen – has reported that there had been no coordination of different government departments with the health department in Occupied Kashmir, and blockade of internet and other communication means amidst the outbreak of highly contagious disease have added fears to the Kashmiri people.

Dear Government of #India: Don't abuse your power in Jammu & Kashmir during this global health crisis. The end to the #COVID19 pandemic in the region cannot come without the solidarity of all its people.

— Amnesty International (@amnesty) March 31, 2020