Central jail prisoners begin hunger strike in occupied Kashmir

SRINAGAR: The prisoners at central jail of Srinagar, in occupied Kashmir, started a hunger strike on Tuesday to press for their demands  in relation to an incident, which recently took place inside the prison.

According to Kashmir Media Service (KMS), the inmates started the hunger strike from 8:15 am today. Their demands include the transfer of jail Superintendent and that they shall not be shifted outside jails. They are also demanding the withdrawal of FIR registered against them in connection with the incident, which took place during the intervening night of April 5 and 6.

After interaction with the inmates, a five-member team of lawyers from the Bar Association submitted a report before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar.

The report of the Kashmir Bar Association said, the inmates have also demanded that they shall be provided newspapers and allowed to read books including the Holy Quran, KMS reported.

The report quoting inmates said that the fire earlier attributed to the inmates actually happened due to firing of teargas shells by police and paramilitary CRPF called to quell the protests inside the jail after inmates protested against the desecration of the Holy Quran.

The inmates, as per Bar report said, are not allowed to meet any of the visitors or relatives.

The KMS reported that the bar team found “the inmates feel that a conspiracy has been hatched against them and the authorities have adopted a hostile attitude towards them for their political ideology and thought.”