Srinagar, Sep 5: Tihar Jail authorities on Friday acknowledged that jailed Member Parliament from Baramulla Er Rashid had an altercation with transgenders lodged in the prison, but denied that there was any “murderous assault” on him.
According to the details available with the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) soon after Awami Ithad Party (AIP) alleged that its president was attacked inside the Tihar jail with an “intent to kill”, the Tihar Jail authorities dismissed the allegations as baseless.
“About 7–8 days ago, Rashid had a verbal altercation with transgender inmates lodged in Jail Number 3, after which they assaulted him. He sustained only very minor injuries. At present, only three transgender prisoners are lodged in Tihar. Allegations regarding murder planning and other charges are unfounded”, Tihar Jail authorities said in a statement.
Earlier, Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) raised alarm over what it termed a ‘murderous plot’ against incarcerated Member of Parliament from Baramulla, Engineer Rashid inside Tihar Jail.
The AIP referred to revelations made by MP Er Rashid during his recent legal meeting with his counsel, Advocate Javeed Hubbi.
“Tihar authorities have devised new methods to harass Kashmiri prisoners by deliberately lodging male eunuchs with them, encouraging them to provoke and attack,” Hubbi quoted Er Rashid as having said.
According to Hubbi, Er Rashid narrowly escaped a fatal injury after a group of inmates pushed and threw a gate on him. “It was a miraculous escape. Had it hit directly, it could have been fatal. This is nothing short of a deliberate attempt to physically harm him”, he alleged.
Er Rashid also claimed that fellow Kashmiri detainees, including Ayoub Pathan of Beerwah, Bilal Mir of Qamarwari, Amir Gojri of Srinagar and Arshid Tanch of Kupwara, have been repeatedly harassed, particularly during prayers.
He further alleged that HIV-positive inmates were intentionally lodged with Kashmiri prisoners as part of a larger campaign backed by jail gangsters.
The AIP, meanwhile, demanded an independent probe and immediate guarantees for the safety and dignity of all Kashmiri detainees. (KNO)
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