Rats bite 2 politicians in VVIP jail
text_fieldsSrinagar: Inside a luxury hotel turned VVIP jail, rats have unleashed a reign of terror against the high profile political prisoners, biting two senior mainstream leaders and sending their prison guards into a tizzy.
Situated on the banks of famed Dal Lake, Centaur Lake View Hotel, which has been converted into a sub jail, houses 35 political prisoners including National Conference general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone, PDP general secretary Nizamuddin Bhat, 2010 IAS topper turned politician Shah Faesal and others.
The facility however turned into a horror house a few days ago when rats unleashed a wave of terror in the prison cells and bit two senior leaders ---PDP general secretary Nizamududin Bhat and Mukhtar Bandh, son of former PDP minister Khalil Bandh.
Sources said while Bhat had received minor injuries in the incident, Bandh’s son suffered serious wounds and was provided immediate medical treatment to prevent infection.
“The two incidents have created terror among the inmates,” said a relative after meeting a political detainee at Centaur.
The relatives are allowed to meet the political detainees twice a week- Wednesday and Sunday. Long queues of relatives can be seen outside the sub jail anxiously waiting for their turn to meet detainees.
J&K Director General of Police (Prisons) VK Singh said these subsidiary centers (sub jails) don’t come under his jurisdiction.
An official of Centur Hotel pleaded ignorance about the rat bites.
After the scrapping of Article 370, authorities have detained over 2000 people including politicians and trouble makers. Those arrested include former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti who are lodged at Hari Niwas Palace and Chesma Shahi tourism hut respectively.
Inmates lodged in Centaur Lake View Hotel have been provided separate rooms. Sources said after initial strictness, things have been eased out for the inmates. Sources said that sub jail is under round the clock electronic surveillance and the inmates activities are being monitored closely.