Acquitted, Kashmiri man still not released from Tihar jail

Srinagar, May 12, 2013 (PPI-OT): A day after Times of India reported how two Kashmiri men were acquitted by the Delhi high court after spending seven years in jail, one of these men, Mushtaq Ahmed Kaloo, is still in Tihar jail. Mushtaq’s family has been waiting outside Tihar jail for three days hoping for his release.

“We have been in Delhi since the high court ordered his acquittal on Monday. When the release orders were finally sent to Tihar on Friday, we expected him to be released. We waited till 10.30pm but his name was not on the list,” said Mushtaq’s brother Abdul.

Abdul and his two cousins, Jeelani and Mudassir Soofi, visited Tihar jail again on Saturday. Mudassir flew into Delhi on Saturday morning with court documents from Kashmir to secure Mushtaq’s release.

“We met jail officials on Saturday who assured they would help us. We handed an affidavit from Sopore court that said the only other case against Mushtaq had been dismissed. But, we were told that they were waiting for a message from Sopore before they could release him,” said Mudassir.

Mushtaq’s family again waited till 6.30pm outside Tihar jail on Saturday only to leave dejected. “We have details of the wireless message sent from Sopore court on Saturday,” said Mudassir.

The Delhi high court had earlier slammed Delhi police for investigation done defying logic, prudence and reason, and acquitted Mushtaq and Iqbal. Mushtaq’s counsel and Supreme Court lawyer, Kamini Jaiswal, said that the delays were inhuman. “Legally speaking, release orders must be given the highest priority and his stay in jail thereafter each day is illegal” she added.

For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Phone: 92-51-4435548, 4435549
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