Srinagar: Expressing serious concern over the worrying situation across the world in general and Jammu & Kashmir in particular due to alarming increase in novel coronavirus (Covid-19) cases, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) headed by incarcerated Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday reiterated its demand that government must release all the political prisoners and other detainees taken into preventive custody unconditionally in view of the rising positive cases of Covid 19 in jails and detention centres across J&K.
In a statement issued to press, APHC said there have been over hundred Covid-19 positive cases in Islamabad (Anantnag) jail where mostly youth and those associated with Pro freedom parties have been detained.
“With the threat of Covid-19 looming large, the families of Kashmiri political leaders, and thousands of youth who were arrested on the eve of 5 August 2019 and other kashmiri prisoners lodged in J&K and various other jails including Kot Bhalwal, Jammu, Kathua, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi’s Tihar Jail, etc are very much worried about the health and safety of their relations detained ,Under such circumstances, they all must be released forthwith,” the APHC said.
The Hurriyat also reiterated its appeal to people to follow in letter and spirit the SOPs and guidelines related to Covid-19 as laid down by health experts as the number of positive cases and deaths due to the virus have increased manyfold.
“By taking precautionary measures, we can succeed in overcoming the challenge posed by the outbreak ,the conglomerate said, appealing People should avoid venturing out unnecessarily.
