Dr Saibaba to go on hunger strike in jail from Oct 21

October 16, 2020 18:21

Dr G N Saibaba, who has been lodged in Nagpur Central Jail under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) since 2014, will be going on hunger strike to demand the basic rights of every prisoner, and access to reading material, letters and medicines.

The Committee for the Defence and Release of Dr Saibaba, in a press release, said he has resolved to observe a hunger strike starting from October 21 in light of the denial of basic medical facilities to him and the denial of books and letters sent to him from family and friends.

Unfair restrictions and harassment faced by him are compounded by the inability of family or lawyers to visit him in jail due to the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic, it said.

Dr Saibaba, a professor of English in Delhi University with 90% disability, has spent the last several years suffering grave physical ailments, including the gradual paralysis of his functional limbs due to neglect and continuous denial of adequate treatment by the jail authorities, the release added.

The repeated denial of parole or medical bail to Dr Saibaba despite his deteriorating physical health and the vulnerabilities of a person with co-morbidities facing the threat of contracting Covid-19 inside the over-crowded jail is a grave threat to his life. At this stage, withholding medicine provided by the lawyer is extremely concerning, and deprives him of crucial life-saving medicines that he may require, it said.

The committee said it appeals to the Nagpur Central Jail authorities to intervene and ensure the basic rights of Dr Saibaba are upheld, he is provided medicines, books and letters and ensures that his life is not endangered.

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