Geelani demands release of pro-freedom leaders

Srinagar, April 24: APHC chairman, Syed Ali Geelani demanded immediate release of pro-freedom leaders and activists & said that hundreds of innocent youth detained under frivolous cases are languishing in jails and police stations across the valley and most of them are detained under infamous Public Safety Act.
In a statement to CNS, Syed Ali Geelani while blaming state administration for pushing youth to wall, called it extreme vandalism and bullying. He said that denying political space, choking genuine voices and continuous crackdown against pro- freedom leaders and activists is deliberate act to disrupt situation and create uncertainty in state.
Pro-freedom leader while referring to continuous detention of Masarat Aalam Bhat, said that Ameer Hamza Shah, Sheikh Mohamad Yusuf, Mohammad Yusuf Lone, Ab Gani Bhat, Mohammad Rustum Bhat, Meer Hafez Ullah, Mohammad Yusuf Falahi, Mohamad Shaban Dar, Ab Majid Rather, Raies Ahmad Mir, Molana Sarjan Barkati, Shakil Ahmad Yatoo, Mohd Amin Ahangar, Ab Subhan Wani, Bashir Ahmad Qureshi, Ab Hamid Parey, Ab. Aziz Ganie, Mushtaq Ahmad Hura, Ab Ahad Para, Mohammad Rafiq Ganai, Hakim Showkat, Farooq Ahmad Bhat, Shakil Ahmad Bhat,S alman Yusuf, Abdul Khaliq Regu, M Amin Parey, Mohd Yusuf Makroo, Haji Gh Mohammad Mir, Nazir Ahmad Mantoo, Bashir Ahmad Sofi, Bashir Ahmad Saleh, Danish Malik, Ab Rashid Rather, Mohd Ramzan, Showkat Ahmad Dar, Manzoor Ahmad Kaloo, Fayaz Ahmad Kumar, Manzoor Ahmad Bhagat, Tariq Ahmad Dar, Tawseef Ahmad, Farooq Ahmad Ganai, Mushtaq Ahmad Khandey, M Shafi Wagey, Safeer Ahmad Lone, Pervez Ahmad Kaloo and hundred other detainees arrested during people’s uprising are lodged in different jails and interrogation centers.
Detainees lodged in different JK jails are living miserable life, said Geelani, and & are subjected to vengeance and are harassed on one pretext or the other. We are receiving disturbing reports from different jails, said Geelani and jail staff in Jammu, Kathua and Udhampur are very harsh towards prisoners. It is a jail within a jail and mostly the detainees remain in lock up in their jail barks, said Geelani, Criminals lodged in these jails are continuously monitoring them and target these detainees.
Syed Ali Geelani said the detainees are provided with substandard food items and no proper medical facility is provided to ailing prisoners. Geelani said that jail authorities are creating hurdles during the meeting between prisoners & their families and these meetings are often denied.
Since the inception of coalition regime, a KGB like setup has evolved, said Geelani. Political activities are banned and even restrictions against religious obligation are in force said he. Syed Ali Geelani said that since 2010 he continues to be under house detention and barred from offering his religious and social obligations.
Geelani said that similarly all other political leaders and activists are detained or are under house arrest. They are choking political space, said Geelani and thereby pushing people to wall.
Geelani urged International Red Cross and Amnesty international to take note of pathetic condition of political detainees and impress upon India to shun its callous attitude towards detainees and provide them with basic necessities as per jail manual. He impressed to take their cognizance and use influence for immediate release of all detainees. Although their office exists but is just for namesake & said that these bodies since long have never visited these jails.
While paying rich tributes to slain youth, Mohammad Yunis Ganai, Syed Ali Geelani said, unrealistic and stubborn approach of Indian authorities is basic cause of continuous bloodshed in state. Geelani said that slain youth was a noble soul and however was unnecessarily harassed by state Task Force. Several fake cases were filed against him and police were demanding ransom. Slain youth was arrested by police and was subjected to severe torture by police. Geelani blamed state forces for their brute attitude, said they are pushing youth to wall and compelling them to take arms. He condoled the family and his father and prayed for departed soul and strength to bear the irreparable loss.