Srinagar, Nov 18 (KNS): Detained political leaders, who were shifted to MLA Hostel from Centaur Hotel on Sunday, have complained of lack of heating and other arrangements in the rooms provided to them by the authorities.
33 political leaders, who are undergoing detention after the Center abrogated J&K’s special status under Article 370 on August 5, were shifted from Centaur Hotel to MLA Hostel on Sunday. Sources said some of the leaders, including Peoples Conference chairman and former minister Sajjad Lone, had heated arguments with authorities at MLA Hostel over the condition of room.
The detainees raised objections over the lack of heating facilities and hygiene in the rooms and had initially declined to enter the rooms. Some of them were allegedly manhandled by the security personnel on duty.
The family members of the detainees told KNS that they have been kept in unhygienic rooms, which lack proper heating arrangements. “Deputy Commissioner Srinagar must go there and stay in these rooms for a few hours and then he will come to know what is the condition of these rooms,” they said.
“There is no proper power supply and only single rod heaters have been provided to them. In this chilling winter, there isn’t even regular hot water as geysers are not properly working. There is no backup power supply,” they alleged.
However, Additional Director General Police (ADGP) Law and Order and Security Muneer Khan told KNS that their primary job was to ensure foolproof security of the detained leaders. “It is the job of the district administration to check about heating and other arrangements while our job is to provide security,” he said.
Asked whether there was any chance of release of these leaders in near future, Khan said, “As of now I have no information about it. As and when any decision is taken, they (detained leaders) will be informed.”
Those who were shifted to MLA Hostel include, Sajjad Lone, PDF President Hakim Mohammad Yaseen, NC leaders Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mubarak Gul, Altaf Kaloo, Ishfaq Jabbar, Irfan Shah and Dr Bashir Veeri, PDP leaders Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, Mohamamd Ashraf Mir, Zahoor Mir, Aijaz Ahmad Mir, Mohammad Yosuf Bhat, Nayeem Akhtar, Yasir Reshi, Khurshid Aalam and Waheed Parra and former IAS officer and JKPM chief Dr Shah Faesal and deputy mayor of SMC Sheikh Imran. (KNS)