Caged For Months, Two Former Jammu And Kashmir MLAs Admitted To Hospital

Two former Jammu and Kashmir MLAs, who were under detention since August 5, were rushed to a hospital on Thursday night after their health condition deteriorated, according to news agency PTI, citing officials. The Kashmiri MLAs whose health condition worsened in the Centre’s custody were identified as National Conference general secretary and former minister Ali Mohammed Sagar and former Ganderbal MLA Ishfaq Ahmed. They were rushed to the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) at Soura.

The two leaders have been under detention at an unknown location since August 5 when the Narendra Modi government announced to stripe Jammu and Kashmir of its special status and divide the state into two Union Territories - Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.

The officials said both of them have been admitted to SKIMS and are undergoing cardiac-related tests. Sagar, 61, has represented the Khanyar Assembly seat in downtown Srinagar and has served in important positions in the cabinet of Farooq Abdullah as well as that of his son Omar Abdullah.

With no proper heating arrangements, the winter chill had taken a toll on the health of the detenues—National Conference, PDP and People’s Conference leaders and prominent social activists.

Kins of the detained leaders have been complaining about the make-shift subsidiary jail’s poor facilities which includes inadequate heating arrangements to brave winters months in the Kashmir valley. Many of relatives had brought warm beddings for their detained kins as there was no heating system at the MLA hostel.

The BJP has apprehension that if released, these political leaders will lead protests against the Article 370 move. However, the authorities had once said that these leaders will be released in a phased manner. Three former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers – NCP’s Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar and PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti – are among the prominent Kashmiri leaders caged by the Centre on August 5.