Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday took up the attack on Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin's son Syed Shahid Yousuf in Tihar jail with Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba.
Mehboob's call to Gauba came after Hurriyat Conference warned the government of dire consequences for assault on Shahid and other Kashmiri prisoners lodged in jails outside.
The chief minister was concerned over reports of harassment and manhandling of some inmates from the state in Tihar jail in New Delhi, a government spokesman said in a statement.
“Taking a serious note of these reports, the chief minister spoke to the Union home secretary and requested him to intervene in the matter,” the spokesman said.
He said Guba assured her that the matter would be looked into and those found guilty of violating the rules will be dealt sternly.
Shahid,42, was arrested by National Investigation Agency (NIA) on October 24 on charges of receiving secret funds for creating unrest in Kashmir.
NIA has said Shahid has been arrested for receiving secret funds by transfer of money from a Hizbul operative Ajaz Ahmed Bhat alias Ajaz Maqbool Bhat from Saudi Arabia.
The separatists have condemned the attack on Shahid and warned the government of consequences in case any harm comes to him and other prisoners from Kashmir.
“Shahid Yousuf, son of Syed Salahuddin, was beaten in Tihar jail due to which he suffered injuries in his arm and head,'' said a spokesman of Hurriyat Conference led by Ali Shah Geelani. ''The prisoners face life threats because they have been lodged with criminals.''
Joint Resistance Leadership of separatists comprising Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik also condemned the attack on Shahid.
“The detainees are being treated by the champions of democracy in total violation of basic norms of humanity,'' the JRL said in a statement. “They even ignore the Supreme Court ruling with regard to the prisoners. ”
