Srinagar: Terming the death of a prisoner of Central Jail Srinagar as unfortunate and ‘’suspicious’’, the International Forum for Justice and Human Rights – JK (IFJHR-JK) has urged State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) to investigate the matter itself.
“It is the responsibility of jail authorities to keep a close check on each and every concern of the prisoners, their health and other activities. The sudden mysterious death depicts the sheer lapse on part of authorities which has raised many questions on their conduct,” International Forum for Justice and Human Rights – JK in a statement has said.
The forum demands that jail authorities must maintain proper medical records of every inmate and must inform higher authorities time to time regarding their health status.
The forum demands an independent probe by State Human Rights Commission into this mysterious death by ordering the IGP level probe in this regard and also urges judiciary to take serious notice of the matter.
“This is the third death so far in the Srinagar Central Jail and there have been complaints regarding the ill treatment of jail authorities with the prisoners which has raised numerous questions that jail authorities are answerable to,” said Muhammad Ahsan Untoo, chairman, IFJHR.
He said that SHRC instead of taking suo motto cognizance should directly order enquiry into the death, so that culprits should be brought to justice.
Untoo also urged judiciary to interfere and hold the jail authorities accountable to their work and conduct whether they are following the jail manuals and procedures in letter and spirit.