Mufti’s daughter asks J-K admn, Centre for number of detainees since Aug 5

CHANDIGARH: Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter has written to the home secretaries of both Jammu and Kashmir as well as the central government with a detailed questionnaire asking for details of the number of people detainees in the state since August 5, when the Centre had read down Article 370 of the Constitution.

Paramilitary troopers stop to check a vehicle in Srinagar on Friday. Tribune photo: Amin War

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, September 20

Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter has written to the home secretaries of both Jammu and Kashmir as well as the central government with a detailed questionnaire asking for details of the number of people detainees in the state since August 5, when the Centre had read down Article 370 of the Constitution.

Iltija, who posted screen shots of a detailed letter she said wrote to both on September 18, said in a tweet posted on her mother’s Twitter handle that she had written on behalf of her mother and was still awaiting a response.

The letter says: “My mother, Ms. Mufti has been detained since the evening on 05.08.2019. I was able to meet her in the last week a few times in private, following an order of the Supreme Court enabling me to do so dt. 05.09.2019.

During the period of her detention, she has had no access to newspapers and has not had any political briefing from any member of her party or staff thus far. She has only been able to meet the members of her immediate family, including myself”.

“In my meetings with her, my mother expressed concern at the number of detentions and arrests (and in particular the reports of detention of children) that have taken place in the state in the aftermath of the recent Constitution Orders issued by the President and the passage of the Reorganization Act. As the President of a major political party in the State, and as its most recent chief minister, she has instructed me to seek the information relating to the same from you”.

“Accordingly, you are requested to kindly provide me with the following information, as soon as possible and preferably within three days. I am reiterating here that I am not a politician or a person with political party affiliations. I am doing this on behalf and for my mother who is a politician, and a president of a registered political party.”

The letter asks for number of people detained since August 5, number of people detained under Public Safety Act, number of children and women among the detainees, and number of undert-trails moved to other states, among other things.

Here is the detailed letter she wrote, along with the questions she posed in it. The letter bore the place line 'Chennai'. Please note that the text here is quoted verbatim, without any changes at all to the original letter posted on Twitter.

"I, Iltija emailed the Home Secretary of GOI & Home Secretary of J&K on 18th September seeking certain information for my mother, Ms Mufti. I am still awaiting a response. ????

I am Ms. lltija, d/o Ms. Mehbooba Mufti, who is a former Chief Minister of the State of Jammu and Kashmir and the President of the Jammu & Kashmir People’s Democratic Party.

My mother, Ms. Mufti has been detained since the evening on 05.08.2019. I was able to meet her in the last week a few times in private, following an order of the Supreme Court enabling me to do so dt. 05.09.2019. During the period of her detention, she has had no access to newspapers and has not had any political briefing from any member of her party or staff thus far. She has only been able to meet the members of her immediate family, including myself.

In my meetings with her, my mother expressed concern at the number of detentions and arrests (and in particular the reports of detention of children) that have taken place in the state in the aftermath of the recent Constitution Orders issued by the President and the passage of the Reorganization Act. As the President of a major political party in the State, and as its most recent chief minister, she has instructed me to seek the information relating to the same from

you.

Accordingly, you are requested to kindly provide me with the following information, as soon as possible and preferably within three days. I am reiterating here that I am not a politician or a person with political party affiliations. I am doing this on behalf and for my mother who is a politician, and a president of a registered political party.

1. The number of residents of the State of J&K who were detained/arrested or placed under house arrest on or after 05.08.2019. Please provide this information tabulated by District and Police Station, and their current status (eg. ‘detained’, ‘released’, ‘under house-arrest’ etc.)

2. In a tabulated form similar to Request #1 above, please provide the number of residents who are minors (under eighteen years), children in the age group between 12 years and 15 years, children in the age group under twelve years; and women, who have been detained/arrested or placed under house arrest on or after 05.08.2019.

3. Please provide the number of detenues or under-trials who have been moved out of the State to jails and other detention centres outside the State. Please provide the information tabulated with categorization similar in requests #1 and #2 above for each outstation prison/jail/detention place.

4. The number of deaths reported from among those who have been detained/arrested or placed under house arrest on or after 05.08.2019, and the details thereof.

5. The number of such detenues tabulated by District and Police Station who have been detained under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act. And among those, the number of minors, children, women etc. (same categorization as Request #2 above).

6. The number of such detenues who have not had any meetings with their relatives or friends thus far.

7. The number of such detenues for whom habeas corpus petitions have been filed and/or notice issued in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, similarly tabulated by District and Thana.

8. The number of such detenues which have been released following orders of the High Court in habeas corpus petitions or in any other proceeding.

9. The number of districts or places as on date, still under prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC and a list of such places along with the date of the order issued under Section 144 of CrPC.

Kindly acknowledge the receipt of this communication. Looking forward to a timely response from your office.'

I, Iltija emailed the Home Secretary of GOI & Home Secretary of J&K on 18th September seeking certain information for my mother, Ms Mufti. I am still awaiting a response. ???? pic.twitter.com/ZtjFodUMEV
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) September 20, 2019