Interlocutor Sharma in Srinagar amid shutdown call

Separatists pitch for the release of political prisoners

As Government of India (GoI) special representative on Jammu & Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma arrived in Srinagar on Monday, separatists pitched for the release of political prisoners “to prove sincerity towards creating a conducive atmosphere.”

Separatists organised a shutdown on Monday against the alleged “maltreatment of political prisoners in jails”, including second-rung leaders rounded up during the National Investigation Agency (NIA) raids earlier this year.

Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik was arrested by the police and shifted to the Central Jail, Srinagar, in the wake of the shutdown call and protests.

“A blanket ban on political activities, incarceration of thousands of old, young, women, men specially-abled, ailing and minors, are actually glaring examples of state terrorism,” said Mr. Malik.

Tehreek-e-Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Geelani, who released pictures of Tihar jail inmates allegedly beaten up there, condemned the “ill treatment of political prisoners”.

All-Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq demanded that “all political prisoners be released immediately if New Delhi is sincere about improving the ground situation in Kashmir”.

Socio-religious group Jamaat-e-Islami demanded the “unconditional release of all political prisoners”.

“The international and local human rights bodies should look into the deplorable conditions of the inmates. Thousands of innocent Kashmiris are languishing in jails only for the reason that they wish a resolution of the Kashmir issue,” said a Jamaat spokesman.

Separatists’ shutdown and statements on the release of political prisoners coincided with Mr. Sharma’s visit to the Valley.

A day after visiting volatile Pulwama in south Kashmir, Mr. Sharma met 30 delegations in Srinagar as an effort to continue the dialogue process, devoid of the participation of separatists so far.

Among those who met him were students of Kashmir University, flood victims, employees of Radio Kashmir, etc. Sources said the delegates raised “micro issues” and “stressed on the need to address the political aspect of the Kashmir problem too”.

Mr. Sharma, who is on the second leg of his visit to J&K, is likely to visit Anantnag on Tuesday. He was appointed a special representative on October 23 by the Centre.