Senior J&K Jamaat-e-Islami Activist Dies In Allahabad

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Ishfaq-ul-Hassan
SRINAGAR, DECEMBER 23—Massive crackdown against Jammu and Kashmir Jamaat-e-Islami has claimed first casualty when its 65-year-old activist died in Naini Jail in Praygraj, formerly Allahabad.
Ghulam Mohammad Bhat of Handwara in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district was arrested on July 10, 26 days before Centre scrapped special status of Jammu and Kashmir and divided the state into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Later, he was booked under stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) and shifted to Naini Jail in Prayagraj district.
Bhat, according to family members, was suffering from different ailments. For some time now, Bhat was not keeping well in the Jail. On Friday night, he breathed his last following prolonged illness. Family sources said his PSA term was likely to end on January 9, 2020.
“Bhat is the first Kashmiri political detainee to have died in a jail outside Kashmir. Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has blood on its hands and must be held accountable”, said Iltija Mufti, on her mother Mehbooba Mufti’s twitter handle.
Family members of Bhat said they were informed by the police on Saturday about his death. His body was flown to Srinagar wherefrom he was taken to his ancestral village for final rites. Bhat is among hundreds of Jamaat activists who were rounded up after Centre slapped ban on the outfit in February this year. Jamaat-e-Islami, J&K Ameer, Dr Fayaz too has been arrested and lodged in a jail outside Jammu and Kashmir.
Kashmir has been simmering post abrogation of Article 370. Thousands of political leaders including three former chief ministers –Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti –have been arrested.
Official figures reveal that more than 5,161 people including stone pelters, miscreants, over ground workers and politicians were arrested since the abrogation of Article 370. Those arrested include three former chief ministers –Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti –have been arrested.
The 83-year-old National Conference president and sitting MP from Srinagar Farooq Abdullah has been slapped with Public Safety Act, a law usually used against militants, stone throwers and separatists. Abdullah is among 300 people who have been booked under Public Safety Act.
Other prominent political leaders detained include Sajad Lone, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Naeem Akhtar, 2010 IAS topper turned politician Dr Shah Faesal and others. At least 33 leaders of the National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Conference and Jammu Kashmir Peoples Movement are under detention at MLA Hostel that has been designated as sub-jail.

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