Delhi Riots: Former Congress Councillor Ishrat Jahan Alleges Being Harassed By Inmates In Jail

Ishrat Jahan, Former Congress Councillor, who was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in a northeast Delhi riots case alleged before a court in Delhi on Tuesday that she was being physically and verbally harassed by inmates at Mandoli jail.

Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat reacting on her allegation directed the jail authorities to ensure Jahan’s security and to make sure she wasn’t harassed further for filing a complaint before the court. The court also asked for a detailed report of the matter from the jail authorities on Wednesday and if she needs to be shifted to another prison.

Assistant Superintendent of Mandoli jail confirmed that the incident alleged by Jahan has in fact occurred and the jail authority has taken steps to resolve it.

Replying to his confirmation the judge said, "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."

The judge further directed the jail official to take all the necessary and immediate steps to prevent the harassment from happening again. He said that he doesn’t want to hear that Jahan is harmed in any way. He also asked the jail officials to bring Jahan in before the court on Wednesday through video conferencing.

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Jahan who directly submitted the complaint to the court said that this was the second incidents in a month and that Jahan was under immense stress because of the physical and verbal harassment.

"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.

She also said that she had requested to be shifted to Tihar jail since she has been facing these issues for the past four months but it was refused stating COVID-19 pandemic.

Jahan’s lawyer, Advocate Pradeep Teotia said that when Jahan was beaten up by inmates, one of the inmates was shifted to another jail facility. He also alleged that two women who are in Jahan’s prison cell beat her up on Tuesday while Jahan was offering her morning prayers.

Jahan also said that she was suffering from some medical condition but she has not been taken to a hospital.

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Image credit: Indianexpress.com