The Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) leader and Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid, lodged in Tihar since 2019 in a terror funding case, alleged that he made a "narrow escape" during an attack on him in prison by some inmates. He made these claims in a legal meeting with his advocate Javeed Hubbi. "Rashid conveyed to me that Tihar Jail authorities have devised new methods to harass prisoners by deliberately lodging them with those who are encouraged to attack them," Hubbi said. "This has been happening for the last three months," he added. "It was a miracle that he escaped. Tihar authorities should file an FIR.it is their duty since deliberate attempts are being made to harm the MP," he said. Sources in Tihar jail said that the MP was attacked by some inmates and sustained a minor injury during an altercation which took place about nine days ago. Sources also dubbed allegations of planning his murder as baseless. Rashid became the Baramulla MP after defeating National Conference leader Omar Abdullah by 2 lakh plus votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Rashid on August 9, 2019, four days after the abrogation of Article 370 and the removal of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. NIA had alleged that Rashid used various public platforms to “propagate the ideology of separatism and secessionism”, and was closely associated with various terrorist organisations. The agency had also alleged that he wanted to “legitimise” the United Jihad Council (UJC), a platform of anti-India militant groups in Jammu and Kashmir. Meanwhile, a Delhi court on Saturday allowed the MP to visit Parliament in custody on Tuesday to cast his vote for the Vice President's election.
