Jundal’s solitary confinement owing to security issues: state

The state government on Wednesday told the Bombay high court that Abu Jundal, an alleged operative of the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, has been confined to a solitary cell due to security reasons.

The state government on Wednesday told the Bombay high court that Abu Jundal, an alleged operative of the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, has been confined to a solitary cell due to security reasons.

HT Image

Jundal had approached the high court pleading not to be kept in solitary confinement in the same cell where Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab once stayed.

According to his application filed though advocate Ejaz Naqvi, the applicant (Jundal) has been kept in solitary confinement for more than six months.

He had pleaded that like all under-trials, he should also be kept in the common barracks and be allowed certain privileges extended to other prisoners.

Jundal also claimed that he was mentally unfit and under medication when he was lodged at Tihar jail in Delhi.

During the hearing, a division bench of Justice PV Hardas and Justice Mridhula Bhatkar had enquired whether Jundal was on death row and what kind of prisoners were subjected to solitary confinement.

The state, however, said they had taken the step due to security issues and cited a confidential report to prove it.

The court directed the state to file an affidavit in this regard and adjourned the hearing beyond vacation.

Jundal has been lodged in the Arthur Road prison in central Mumbai.

His cell was earlier occupied by Kasab, the lone arrested terrorist of 26/11 terror attacks, before he was executed.