Human rights panel issues notices on hunger strike by 12 undertrials

The alleged CPI(Maoist) cadres claim their trial is being delayed

April 04, 2016 12:00 am | Updated 05:44 am IST - BHUBANESWAR:

The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) on Saturday directed the State Home Secretary to take action for expeditious trial of alleged cadres of CPI(Maoist), who had reportedly launched coordinated attack on police establishments in Nayagarh district headquarter town in February 2008.

Campaign Against Fabricated Cases (CAFC) had moved the OHRC drawing attention of 12 undertrial prisoners who have been on hunger strike protesting that their trials were being deliberately delayed.

Notices were also issued to Director General of Police, Additional Director General Police (prison) and Inspector General of Police to take appropriate action so that undertrial prisoners and prosecuting witnesses appear before the court on the date fixed and submit an action taken report to the panel within two weeks.

Moreover, prison authorities were directed to take steps to call off strike and prevent further deterioration of the situation. The CAFC had submitted that undertrial prisoners who were facing serious charges had been languishing in the Bhanja Nagar sub-jail and Special Jail, Jharpada, in Bhubaneswar for three to five years.

“Those in Bhanja Nagar sub-jail are on hunger strike since March 31, 2016, and in Special Jail, Bhubaneswar, since March 30. No officer in the civil administration has talked to any prisoner,” said Biswapriya Kanungo of CAFC.

“As a part of the delaying tactics, prosecution witnesses are not produced on the date fixed for evidence and cases are adjourned for months together and even the investigating officers are deliberately avoiding attending the trials ,” alleged Mr. Kanungo.

A report states the undertrials have been languishing in jail for three to five years now

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.