Bhatkal's allegations of HR violations false, Tihar Jail tells court

Tihar Central Jail authorities have told a court here that the allegations of human rights violations by Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, who is on the death row after his conviction in a blast case, are "false and fabricated".

"The allegations levelled in his application by the inmate are false and fabricated just to malign the jail administration with ulterior motives best known to him, whereas he has been provided all basic needs similar to other prisoners," jail authorities told Additional Sessions Judge Siddharth Sharma.

The court had earlier sought Tihar Jail's response on Bhatkal's plea, seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation investigation into alleged human rights violation and physical harassment in the jail.

Sentenced to death by an National Investigation Agency court in December 2016 in the 2013 Dilsukhnagar twin blasts case in Hyderabad, he is, at present, in judicial custody in connection with several other terror-related cases.

In his plea, Bhatkal has alleged that he had been kept in isolation for the last four months, due to which he was suffering from mental and psychological problems. He was denied proper medical aid, food and water and was facing problems during the ongoing Ramadan month, where adult Muslims must keep a dawn-to-dust fast, he had said.

Refuting Bhatkal's allegations, jail authorities said that he has been facing trial in 50 cases, and kept in the high security ward as there were inputs from various security agencies that he may escape from custody while there was also danger to his life.

"Thereby, he has been categorised under 'very very high risk prisoner' and kept under 24 hours CCTV surveillance and the watch of special guards," jail authorities told the court.

The court now posted the matter for July 20.

--IANS

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