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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Maoists may lose political prisoner tag -Deeptiman Tiwary

Maoists may lose political prisoner tag -Deeptiman Tiwary

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published Published on Mar 13, 2013   modified Modified on Mar 13, 2013
-The Times of India

Nine Maoists, including rocket launcher Sadula Ramakrishna, who were granted the status of 'political prisoners' by a lower court in Kolkata, may soon be stripped of their privileges as the West Bengal government is set to challenge the order in the Supreme Court.

Last week, the apex court stayed a Calcutta High Court order giving political prisoner status to Maoist leader Telugu Dipak, People's Committee against Police Atrocities convener Chhatradhar Mahato and four others. The lower court thereafter granted the same status to the nine others, including Ramakrishna, who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency for manufacturing arms, ammunition and military-grade rocket launchers to wage war against the state.

The HC order last August, given under the West Bengal Correctional Services Act, had rattled the security establishment which feared it would act as a precedent and prompt even a terrorist like Lashkar's Hafiz Saeed to demand such status. Proving their apprehensions right, American Centre attacker Aftab Ansari, who has links with Indian Mujahideen, petitioned the court demanding the same status.

A flummoxed Union home ministry then asked the Bengal government to amend the law and challenge the orders in Supreme Court.

A person declared a political prisoner is entitled to privileges like a separate cell, home-cooked food, access to newspapers, books and other reading material, meeting with relatives and advocates and greater freedom inside jail compared to other prisoners.

According to the West Bengal Correctional Services Act, political prisoners are those who are arrested or convicted on a charge of having committed or attempting to commit, aiding or abetting the commissions of any political offence. It is applicable even if the person is charged under the Indian Penal Code.

The law also says that anyone who commits or allegedly commits an offence during a political or democratic movement with an exclusive political objective, free from personal greed or motive, is entitled to political prisoner status. Even charges of waging war against the nation cannot prevent an accused from being granted the status.

The Times of India, 13 March, 2013, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Maoists-may-lose-political-prisoner-tag/articleshow/18941564.cms


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