UP refuses to reveal details of Kashmiri prisoners

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 16

The authorities in Uttar Pradesh have refused to provide details of individuals shifted from J&K to Agra Central Prison post August 5, when the Centre abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated the state into two union territories.

Some top lawyers and separatists have been shifted to the Agra jail from Kashmir after the authorities feared they would lead protests against the abrogation of the special status of J&K.

“The prison authorities in Uttar Pradesh have refused to provide any details of individuals shifted from J&K to Agra Central Prison around the time when fundamental changes were made to the status of J&K under the Constitution,” said New Delhi-based RTI activist Venkatesh Nayak, who is the programme head of Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative.

The Public Information Officer (PIO) has responded to Nayak that he has asked “third party” information which could not be provided as per a 2008 circular issued by the administrative reforms department of Uttar Pradesh. “Ironically, this circular cannot be found on the department’s website or in the compilation of RTI-related government of UP circulars uploaded on the website of the Uttar Pradesh Information Commission,” Nayak said.

Several residents of J&K have been moved to prisons in Uttar Pradesh under detention orders. Officials said over 100 persons from J&K have been detained in four jails of UP.