To scuttle protests, more pro-Pak prisoners to be shifted outside J&K

Several core groups of terrorists and separatist leaders, mostly pro-Pakistanis, lodged in various jails of Jammu and Kashmir were planning to launch violent protests inside and outside the jails across the Valley, post revocation of Article 370.

On specific intelligence inputs, over 100 such prisoners have been shifted from jails of Srinagar, Kathua (Hiranagar) and Jammu, to central jails in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. More such prisoners are being identified in the Valley to be relocated to high security jails outside the recently bifurcated union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. 

Highly placed sources in the government said that 70 inmates from Srinagar, 10 from Jammu and 5 from Kathua and rest from other jails of the Valley, have been shifted to Central jails in UP and Haryana. A majority of inmates, shifted out of the J&K, are charged with terror crimes while a few have been booked under Public Safety Act. The inmates were also charged with raising provocative slogans in a bid to create chaos and disorder inside the jail premises. 

The decision to shift certain inmates outside the Valley was taken following intelligence inputs. Earlier in May 2019, in similar clashes between inmates and jail authorities, leaders of Jamait-i-Islami, lodged inside the Central Jail Srinagar, had provoked inmates booked under terror crimes. Over 200 inmates were then shifted to jails in Kathua, Baramula and Anantnag. Sources said that security of all the prisons in the Jammu and Kashmir was put on red alert since late last month.

Sources said that around 70 pro-Pakistani terrorists and separatist prisoners were airlifted from Srinagar by an Indian Air Force plane on Thursday. The route from jail to airport was secured by the paramilitary forces. All the windows of the special security van, on which the prisoners were transported to airport, were covered with black clothes as a precautionary measure. 

Meanwhile, the District Magistrate of Agra refused to share any information relating to shifting of separatist and terrorists prisoners from Srinagar to Agra. IANS