Geelani denied access to prisoners

KT NEWS SERVICE JAMMU, Sept 26: Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and his personal secretary Fiaz Malik were not given access to the 'political prisoners' detained in District Jail Ambphalla and Central Jail Kot Bhalwal here today.

Talking to the Kashmir Times, Malik said that Hurriyat leader Geelani accompanied by him were denied permissions by the jail authorities to meet 'political prisoners' detained in the two jails.

He said, "Geelani Sahib accompanied by me reached at District Jail Ambphalla at 11.10 AM and sought entry inside the jail to meet political prisoners but a sentry at the main gate stopped us".

Malik further said, informed Jail Superintendent Rajni Sehgal over phone about Geelani Sahib kept us waiting for over 35 minutes and then informed us that Jail Superintendent was not inside the premises".

He, however, said, "We came to know that jail authorities after talking to DIG Prisons refused us the permission to see the detenues as we were told by them that a court order is required to meet them (prisoners).

He added, "Thereafter Geelani Sahib along with me went to Central Jail at Kot Bhalwal to meet political detenues there but a Deputy Superintendent asked us to forward an application".

"Accordingly, we forwarded application and handed over to the Deputy Superintendent, who went inside the jail premises seeking clearance of our names", said Malik, adding "He (DSP) who returned after some time returned the application to us repeating same lines that a court order is required to meet the prisoners because of Geelani Sahib".

Deriding jail authorities for their autocratic way of functioning, Malik said, "political prisoners are being treated like criminals in these jails forcing them to live under inhumane conditions and to add to their woes jail authorities did not allow us to meet them".

"For how long they will continue to commit atrocities on these political detenues", he questioned.

SVO presents challan against former AMT school Principal KT NEWS SERVICE SRINAGAR, Sep 26: The state Vigilance Organisation (SVO) today presented challan against the former Principal of AMT school, Srinagar in the court of special judge Anti corruption Srinagar.

In a press release, SVO said that the case pertains to fraudulent withdrawal of about Rs 1,90,000 against medical reimbursement claim and house rent allowances for which she was not found entitled.

It said that the Principal was functioning as DDO of AMT school, Srinagar at the time of withdrawal of said amount.