2008 blasts accused denied personal shaving kit

AHMEDABAD: A special court hearing the 2008 serial blasts case has turned down a request made by one of the accused to allow him to have his personal shaving kit because regular shaving does not take place in Sabarmati central jail due to Covid-19 pandemic.
In his application forwarded to the court through the jail authority, a serial blasts suspect, Afaq Saiyed, submitted that common shaving kit is used in jail for many prisoners and use of such common shaving kit could prove dangerous because of the surge in Covid-19 cases. This is dangerous to prisoners’ health.
The prisoner has also claimed that due to the pandemic, shaving has not taken place for a month. Therefore, he should be permitted to have his personal shaving kit, a small-size mirror, a use-and-throw plastic razor, a nail cutter and scissors. If allowed, the prisoner can take care of himself and does not have to rely on the shaving facility being made available by the prison authorities.
He requested the court to direct the jail authorities to permit him to have his personal shaving kit.
In response, the jail authorities opposed the prisoner’s request by citing the jail manual. The report placed before the court said that according to the jail manual, shaving service is provided to the prisoners every week and it is taking place regularly despite the pandemic situation. Moreover, the jail authority asserted that there is no provision in the jail manual to provide shaving kit to a prisoner. This prohibition is mainly aimed at maintaining jail discipline and security inside the prison.
After hearing the case, designated judge A R Patel rejected Saiyed’s application and noted that the shaving facility for prisoners is regular and taking place every week according to the jail manual. Considering the jail discipline and security concerns, the request cannot be acceded to.
Saiyed is one of 78 inmates who are facing the trial in the serial blasts. On July 26, 2008, a series of blasts rocked the city of Ahmedabad killing 56 persons and injuring 200 others.