CPM leader Tarigami shifted to Delhi, admitted in AIIMS

Senior CPI(M) leader Mohd Yousuf Tarigami, who was under detention for the past 35 days, has been brought to Delhi and admitted to AIIMS here on Monday following a Supreme Court order.

Tarigami (72), a CPI(M) Central Committee member who was in detention since August 5 after the Centre revoked special status for Jammu and Kashmir, was escorted by police from Srinagar to Delhi. Tarigami, a four-time Jammu and Kashmir MLA, has cardiac problems.

The shifting of Tarigami came after September 5 order by the Supreme Court on a habeas corpus petition filed by CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, who submitted an affidavit detailing his health conditions after visiting him in Srinagar late last month on the apex court's instructions.

Some initial medical tests were conducted on the first day of Tarigami's admission at the hospital.

Yechury, who met the Kashmiri leader and enquired about his health, told DH, “Tarigami is in good spirits. He was in illegal detention for 35 days with no access to the outside world. He is getting better medical care. He is able to see and talk to people. He was totally cut off. He is a people's leader and this isolation was affecting him more.”

In his affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, Yechury had said that Tarigami was kept under detention “with no legal charges”, his Z+ security vehicles withdrawn and personnel guarding him were “instructed” not to allow him or his family to move out or allow others entry to his residence.

“The unlawful detention of Tarigami and other restrictions imposed on his family such as uncertainty about communication and access to medical and emergency assistance have aggravated his severe chronic health conditions and also had an impact on the mental health of him and his family,” Yechury said.