CASR DEMANDS RIGHT TO LIFE WITH DIGNITY IN PRISON FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS SANJOY DEEPAK RAO, AMITABH BAGCHI, DEVENDER REDDY & KARTAM JOGA.
CASR received information that some political prisoners, namely Sanjoy Deepak Rao (60) and Amitabh Bagchi (72) lodged in Cherlapally Jail (Hyderabad), Devender Reddy (66) lodged in Jagdalpur Central Prison and Kartam Joga (57) lodged in Chenchalguda Central Prison, Hyderabad are facing indifferent treatment and denial of basic necessities by prison authorities.
Amitabh Bagchi, jailed for the past 14 years, was advised by Sarojni Eye Institute to get his eyes operated. If his eyes are not operated within upcoming months, he risks complete blindness due to Glucoma. Instead of providing him necessary treatment, the prison authorities have prevented his lawyer from meeting him and did not provide his medical reports to the lawyer, thereby denying him the opportunity to present a strong case for medical bail. It is also important to point out that Amitabh Bagchi was previously granted bail which was later cancelled by the very same court, prior to his release.
Sanjoy Rao, an undertrial political prisoner in jail since September, 2023, wrote a letter to the NIA special judge and requested him to direct the prison authorities to follow AP Prison Rules, discontinue his solitary confinement, return his copy of the prison manual, send him to dental hospital and allow him to use shoes for exercises. This letter comes after his wife was disallowed from giving his shoes and socks. In his letter Sanjoy Rao has also mentioned that On 16th Nov 2024, DIG (Prisons) Dr. Srinivas visited the jail and he directly requested him to discontinue his solitary confinement and solitary segregation. But the DIG spoke in an arrogant attitude ‘If you Don’t follow the constitution why should we. I will not follow rules.’ Later pointing at his shoulder strap credentials he said, Nothing will happen to me.’
Kartam Joga, another undertrial in jail since September, 2024, is suffering from paralysis and is unable to sit, walk, or even understand his surroundings. He is in a state of mental incapacity, and it can be said that he is not in a position to understand the proceedings against him.
Devender Reddy, an undertrial political prisoner in jail since April, 2023, lost visibility in one eye completely and the other eye has only 5 percent visibility. Due to his visual impairment, Devender Reddy needed a magnifier for reading and writing, which was denied.
These four, arrested from different areas in different cases on allegation of being senior Maoist leaders and waging war against the government of India, are undertrial prisoners and are entitled to same protection under law, as any political prisoners. We have seen rising cases of stifling of political dissent on the pretext of Maoist affiliations or upholding Maoist ideology, despite various courts including the Apex court remarking that upholding any thought including Maoism is not a crime unless those charged are proved to be involved in violent activity. These inhuman treatments of denying basic facilities to these prisoners by prison authorities are a violation of the fundamental right to life with dignity and pave way for slow death under worst medical conditions. It is also an attempt to de-humanise a prisoner, despite the courts holding that even a convicted prisoner cannot be reduced to animal existence. These acts remind us of humiliation and neglect faced by political prisoners G.N Saibaba Stan Swamy, Pandu Narote, Students Rights activist Kanchan Nanaware and others, many of whom died in captivity as a result of such neglect. This kind of treatment to undertrial political prisoners is equal to giving a slow death penalty to them.
CASR strongly condemns ill treatment of these political prisoners by prison authorities and State. We demand that these 4 prisoners should be provided with necessary medical care, basic facilities, adherence to prison rules and bail to Devender Reddy on humanitarian groundsWe also appeal to all progressive and democratic organizations and individuals to come together to condemn such harassment of undertrial political prisoners and intensify the struggle for release all political prisoners.
*CAMPAIGN AGAINST STATE REPRESSION*
Organizing Team*
(AIRSO,AISA, AISF, APCR,ASA,BAPSA BBAU,BASF, BSM, Bhim Army, bsCEM, CEM,COLLECTIVE,CRPP, CSM CTF, , DISSC, DSU, DTF, Forum Against Repression Telangana, Fraternity ,IAPL, Innocence Network, Karnataka Janashakti, LAA,Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan, Mazdoor Patrika, , NAPM, NAZARIYA , Nishant Natya Manch, Nowruz, NTUI, People’s Watch, Rihai Manch, Samajwadi Janparishad,Smajwadi lok manch, Bahujan Samjavadi Mnach, SFI, United Peace Alliance, WSS,Y4S)
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