Medical Neglect of Kashmiri Political Prisoners in Indian Jails

The life of a cancer-stricken Kashmiri political prisoner is slipping away behind bars—exposing a grim reality of systemic medical neglect and repression in Indian prisons.

The alarming mistreatment of Kashmiri political detainees in Indian prisons has surfaced once again, as reports reveal the deteriorating condition of Muhammad Ayub Mir, a 63-year-old prisoner battling third-stage stomach cancer. Mir, incarcerated at Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), has suffered prolonged medical negligence, raising serious human rights concerns.

Despite the advanced stage of his illness, Mir was only recently moved to Jammu Medical College after his health took a critical turn. He now urgently requires blood transfusions and financial assistance for continued treatment. For over two decades, Mir has remained imprisoned—initially in Srinagar Central Jail and later transferred to Kot Bhalwal—solely for advocating the UN-mandated right to self-determination for Kashmiris.

Reliable sources allege that Dr. Polly Thappa, the jail’s medical officer, has persistently ignored the healthcare needs of Kashmiri prisoners. Her indifference, reportedly driven by extremist Hindutva leanings, is jeopardizing the lives of multiple detainees, making medical neglect a tool of silent oppression inside Indian jails.

Mir’s situation is not unique. It exemplifies a broader pattern of systemic discrimination and repression against Kashmiri detainees. Over 5,000 Kashmiris are currently incarcerated across IIOJK and mainland India. Many of them face unlawful detentions, denial of medical care, limited legal assistance, and restricted access to family.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has strongly denounced the treatment of Kashmiri political prisoners. APHC spokesman Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas called Mir’s suffering a reflection of India’s deliberate strategy to break the will of Kashmiri resistance through medical neglect. He stressed that countless political detainees are held under fabricated charges and subjected to degrading prison conditions.

Minhas urged the United Nations and global human rights organizations to urgently inspect Kot Bhalwal and other jails detaining Kashmiris. He appealed for immediate international pressure on India to uphold basic human rights within its penal system.

APHC leader Yasmeen Raja also voiced concern over the worsening state of Kashmiris in Indian custody. In a statement from Srinagar, she emphasized that these humanitarian abuses further underline the urgency of resolving the Kashmir conflict. She welcomed the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan but warned that unless the Kashmir issue is addressed, South Asia remains on the brink of nuclear disaster.

Raja reiterated that Kashmir is not a territorial matter, but a human and political issue rooted in the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination. She stressed that no solution will be legitimate unless it includes the voices and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.