Shabir Shah in stable condition, rumours on lack of medical care unfounded, say Tihar authorities

The Tihar Jail authorities on Friday dismissed social media rumours about the deteriorating health of Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, terming them unfounded and misleading.A senior prison official clarified that Shah, who was currently lodged in a Delhi prison, had been receiving regular medical attention and was in stable condition. He further said that Shah was referred to the Safdarjung Hospital on June 26 for outpatient consultation, following complaints related to lower urinary tract symptoms.

"He was admitted for further evaluation, and all his test reports have returned normal. Appropriate medical treatment is being provided at Safdarjung Hospital," the officer told The Tribune.

The separatist leader was arrested by the National Investigation Agency in 2019 in a terror funding case and has been in the high-security Tihar Jail since then.

The clarification came in response to reports circulating on social media platforms, suggesting that Shah’s health had taken a critical turn, prompting concerns among his supporters in the Valley. The separatist leader's daughter Sehar Shabir Shah had recently made an appeal through social media, urging the authorities to provide better treatment to her jailed father on humanitarian grounds.

"This is not political. This is not anti-national. This is not against any country, institution or government. This is only about my father’s life. His health. His right to be treated with dignity," Sehar posted on X along with a video of her fervent appeal. She had alleged that her father had spent 38 years in prison without any conviction and justice.

Several Valley leaders had come out in Shah's support. Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi had written a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking immediate medical care for Shah. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti had also urged the Centre to take a humanitarian view by ensuring Shabir Shah receives proper medical care.

The prison official urged the public not to fall prey to speculation and only rely on verified updates from credible sources.