New Delhi: Kashmiri prisoners held in Tihar Jail are experiencing increased hardships as new restrictions prevent them from making weekly phone calls to their families. This measure adds to the already severe conditions they face, including the intense summer heat of Delhi, which has led to several health issues among the detainees.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the latest restriction was imposed over a week ago and was communicated verbally, cutting off vital communication between the prisoners and their families. These detainees, facing trials for their political beliefs, are now required to file new applications to restore their phone privileges, despite existing court orders affirming their rights.

The restriction impacts prisoners like Asiya Andrabi, chief of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, detained since 2018, whose family decries the move as harassment. This measure seems to be a response to the prisoners’ complaints about the lack of adequate cooling facilities in the jail, as reported by relatives and other sources. Many prisoners have suffered in the extreme heat, lacking proper ventilation and suffering from illness due to the oppressive conditions.

The situation in Tihar Jail calls into question the broader human rights issues facing Kashmiri prisoners, many of whom have been detained for years without trial, highlighting ongoing concerns over justice and fairness in India’s penal system.