Date:08/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/08/stories/2006040823560300.htm

New Delhi

NHRC seeks response on prisoners

Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Taking suo moto cognisance of a news report in the Kashmir Times of prisoners languishing in Jammu jails, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday directed that a copy of the news report be sent to the Chief Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), and the Inspector General (IG) Prison, Jammu and Kashmir to submit its response within two weeks.

According to the news report, members of the J & K High Court Bar Association who had visited jails of the Jammu Division had submitted a report that there were over 275 persons, including Afghan and Pakistani inmates, lodged in Bhalawal Jail under the Public Safety Act. The Bar Association report said that Gulab Mohamad Vani, a 65- year old prisoner had been detained in the jail along with three others above the age of 60 years. It said that Gowhar Ahmed Bhat, Wasim Raja Dar and Jalaluddin Shah, all aged 16 years, were also detained in the jails in Jammu division. The Bar Association report said that persons who were serving detention under the Public Safety Act had been detained up to three times on the same ground.