Delhi riots: Ishrat Jahan alleges in court beating, attack by jail inmates

Ishrat Jahan was arrested under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in a north-east Delhi riots case.

Former Congress Councillor Ishrat Jahan, arrested under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in a north-east Delhi riots case, alleged before a court in the national capital on Tuesday that she was beaten badly by inmates in the Tihar jail and was continuously facing harassment in prison.

She alleged that she was attacked on the head and her clothes torn by other female prisoners. Due to this, she is under mental stress and it is difficult for her to stay in jail, she added.

Tihar Jail DG Sandeep Goyal said, "There was a small fight between Ishrat Jahan and other women prisoners. Now Ishrat Jahan and those women prisoners have been shifted to different barracks. There is no further dispute."

Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat directed the jail authorities to take immediate steps to ensure Jahan's security and ensure that she was not harassed further for bringing her complaints before the court.

The court sought a detailed report from the prison authorities on Wednesday on the steps that have been taken to address the issue and to also state if shifting to her to another jail was required. When the judge asked the Assistant Superintendent of the jail whether such an incident has occurred, she confirmed it and said necessary steps have been taken.

To this the judge told the jail official, "She (Jahan) seems to be in a state of utter fear. Please talk to her immediately and understand the situation. File a detailed report about the steps taken to allay her apprehension and her fear. Take all the necessary steps. Take immediate steps. I don't want to hear that the accused was further harassed by her inmates or anybody else because she complained. I do not want to hear that the present accused is harmed in any way."

It also directed the prison authorities to produce her before the court on Wednesday through video conferencing. While making the submissions directly to the court, Jahan said it was the second incident within one month and was under immense stress due to the continuous harassment, physically and verbally.

"This is the second incident in a month. In the morning today at 6:30 Am, they (inmates) beat me badly and abused me verbally. One of the inmates even slit her hand so that I am punished on a false complaint. Fortunately, the jail officials did not listen to them. I have given a written complaint also. They keep calling me a terrorist. They also demanded money from me in the canteen," Jahan alleged.

Advocate Pradeep Teotia, appearing for Jahan, further alleged that previously also she was beaten up by her inmates, following which one of the inmates was shifted to another jail.

Another accused in the case, Jamia Millia Islamia student Asif Iqbal Tanha, claimed that his family members have been trying to meet him through video conferencing but their requests have not been approved. Tanha also alleged that he has been repeatedly called 'terrorists' in prison.

Tanha's counsel, advocate Sowjhanya Shankaran, said previously when several of the accused had said they have been given basic things in prison, the court had sought a report from the jail authorities but the report has not come yet.

The judge had on November 3 said he would go and inspect the situation physically if things did not improve. But since all the grievances were taken care of by the jail authorities, the judge did not go for a physical inspection.

Co-accused Umar Khalid told the court that even after a month, a soft copy of the charge sheet had not been supplied to him. The judge asked his counsel to move an application before the Tihar prison authorities, where Khalid is lodged, to allow access to the soft copy.
The court has put up the matter for further hearing on January 5.

Communal violence had broken out in northeast Delhi on February 24 after clashes between Citizenship (Amendment) Act supporters and its protesters spiralled out of control leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured. 

with additional inputs from news agency PTI