New Delhi, Jun 27 : The Tihar Jail administration on Friday dismissed circulating rumours about the declining health of Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, calling them baseless and misleading. A senior jail official confirmed that Shah, currently incarcerated in Delhi’s high-security Tihar jail, is in stable condition and is receiving routine medical attention.
Shah was taken to Safdarjung Hospital on June 26 for an outpatient consultation after he complained of lower urinary tract symptoms. According to the prison statement, he was admitted for further evaluation, all test results came back normal, and he is receiving appropriate medical treatment at the hospital.
The clarification follows a wave of concern on social media, where several posts claimed Shah’s health had seriously deteriorated, sparking alarm among his supporters in Kashmir. Authorities urged the public to avoid unverified claims and rely only on official and credible sources for updates.
Shabir Shah, arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2019 in connection with a terror funding case, has remained in custody since then.
Recently, Shah’s daughter Sehar Shabir Shah made a heartfelt appeal on social media, requesting better medical care for her father on humanitarian grounds. In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), Sehar said, “This is not political or anti-national. It’s simply about my father’s life and dignity.”
She added that her father has spent 38 years in jail without a conviction and is now seriously ill, requiring multiple surgeries. Sehar alleged that he has no access to his medical records or basic prisoner rights like phone calls, and that the family has been kept in the dark. “I have seen him suffer behind iron grills, broken microphones, and soundproof walls,” she said.
Her appeal drew support from several leaders in Kashmir. Newly elected Srinagar MP and National Conference leader Aga Ruhullah Mehdi wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging the government to ensure dignified medical care for Shabir Shah in a facility equipped to handle cancer treatment, and to allow his family to be part of medical decisions as per legal provisions. Mehdi stated, “The measure of a nation is how it treats its weakest. Let us not fail that test.”
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti also echoed the sentiment, urging the Centre to adopt a humanitarian approach and ensure Shah receives adequate medical attention.
With inputs from the agencies
