Persecution – Page 43 – free them all

Court rejects Varavara Rao’s plea for short stay in Hyderabad for cataract surgery

23/09/2022 Asha

Court rejects Varavara Rao’s plea for short stay in Hyderabad for cataract surgery

24/09/2022

Hindustan Times / by Charul Shah

The special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Friday rejected the plea of Telugu poet Varavara Rao, an accused in the Elgar Parishad – Bhima Koregaon violence case, seeking permission for a short stay in Hyderabad for undergoing cataract surgery.
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Court Rejects Varavara Rao’s Plea To Go To Hyderabad For Eye Surgery

23/09/2022

Outlook India / by pti

A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai on Friday rejected the plea of poet-activist Varavara Rao, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, seeking permission to travel to Hyderabad for cataract surgery.
The Supreme Court had, in August, granted medical bail to the 82-year-old activist, with his bail conditions being set by the special NIA court presiding over the case.
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Also read:
● Varavara Rao told to remain in Mumbai, not to make statement on case to media (The Indian Express / Aug 2022)
● Supreme Court grants permanent medical bail to P. Varavara Rao in Bhima Koregaon case (The Leaflet / Aug 2022)

Bombay High Court Refuses Bail To DU Professor Hany Babu [read judgment]

19/09/2022 Asha

Bombay HC rejects Hany Babu’s bail plea: ‘Prime facie conspired and abetted terrorist act’

20/09/2022

The Indian Express / Omkar Gokhale

Babu was arrested by the NIA in 2020 for being “actively involved” with banned CPI (Maoist) and booked under charges, including criminal conspiracy and under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The Bombay High Court Monday turned down an appeal filed by Elgaar Parishad case accused and former Delhi University associate professor Hany Babu, challenging the rejection of his bail plea by a special NIA court. The court had concluded the hearing on Babu’s plea on August 29 before reserving its verdict.
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Bombay High Court Refuses Bail To DU Professor Hany Babu In Elgar Parishad Case [read judgment]

19/09/2022

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

Delhi University Professor Hany Babu mobilising rallies and co-ordinating the defence of convicted professor GN Saibaba was not just helping a fellow academic, but prima facie following a leftist handbook, the Bombay High Court said in its order refusing him bail.
Prof Babu was arrested by the National Investigating Agency on July 28, 2020 in the Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad larger conspiracy case.
he court relied on a “Secrecy Handbook” allegedly recovered from Babu on setting up a secret network and avoiding surveillance, which explicitly states that “if one comrade is arrested, other comrades must do everything to help…by providing legal representation, publicity and organising protest.”
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Bombay HC refuses bail to DU professor Hany Babu

19/09/2022

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

A bench of Justices Nitin Jamdar and NR Borkar rendered the verdict today in an appeal filed by Babu challenging an order of the Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court rejecting his bail application.
The Bombay High Court on Monday rejected the regular bail application filed by Delhi University professor Hany Babu, one of the accused in the Bhima Koregaon riots case of 2018.
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Bombay HC Denies Bail to Hany Babu in Elgar Parishad Case, Upholds Trial Court Verdict

19/09/2022

The Wire / by The Wire Staff

The National Investigation Agency has accused Babu of being a “co-conspirator” in propagating Maoist activities and ideology on the instructions of leaders of the banned CPI (Maoist).
Bombay high court on Monday, September 19, rejected the bail plea filed by Delhi University’s associate professor Hany Babu, who is an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case.
A division bench of Justices N. M. Jamdar and N.R. Borkar upheld the earlier ruling of a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court, which had denied him bail.
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Also read:
● Profile of Hanybabu Musaliyarveetil Tharayil – Associate Professor of linguistics at Delhi University, anti-caste scholar and social activist arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case. (By Prisoners of Sconscience India)
● The unravelling of a conspiracy: were the 16 charged with plotting to kill India’s prime minister framed? (The Guardian / Aug 2021)

Court directs NIA to remain present for report on cloned copies

18/09/2022 Asha

The Indian Express / by Sadaf Modak

Citing the Supreme Court direction to decide on framing of charges and discharge pleas of the accused within three months, the court also said it will begin hearing the discharge applications of four accused from next week.
The special court hearing the Elgaar Parishad case directed an officer of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to remain present before it for a report on the pending issue of providing cloned copies of electronic devices to all the accused.
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Vernon Gonsalves is recovering, not pressing for medical bail, says his wife

17/09/2022 Asha

Vernon Gonsalves is recovering, not pressing for medical bail, says his wife

17/09/2022

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

Susan Abraham said the counsel sought access to his medical records and asked the authorities to not discharge the activist from the hospital prematurely.
Activist Vernon Gonsalves’ wife on Monday said that he is recovering at the state-run JJ Hospital in Mumbai and they are not pressing for his medical bail at the moment.
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Vernon Gonsalves bail plea to be heard on September 16

14/09/2022

The Hindu / by Special Correspondent

He was admitted to the hospital on September 8 and is currently undergoing treatment for dengue.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) court will hear activist Vernon Gonsalves’s bail on September 16 as he continues to be on oxygen support at the State-run J.J. hospital.
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Court seeks Vernon Gonsalves’s medical report from JJ Hospital

14/09/2022

The Times of India / by TNN

A special trial court on Tuesday called for a report on an affidvait from state-run J J Hospital on the health condition of Elgar Parishad case accused Vernon Gonsalves who was admitted there last week after being diagnosed with dengue.
Read more

Also read:
● Relatives of BK16 Flag Prison Authorities’ ‘Criminal Negligence’ and Deteriorating Health of Undertrials (Newsclick / Sep 2022)
● Jailers’ apathy? Political prisoners’ right to life in India is ‘almost non-existent’ (Counterview / Sep 2022)

Court Allows Activists Phone Calls With Families / Two more move court seeking mosquito nets

17/09/2022 Asha

Two more accused move court seeking mosquito nets

17/09/2022

Hindustan Times / by Charul Shah

Two more accused in the Elgar Parishad case – Anand Teltumbde and Sagar Gorkhe – have approached the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court seeking mosquito nets while alleging that Taloja jail is infested with mosquitoes.
Two more accused in the Elgar Parishad case – Anand Teltumbde and Sagar Gorkhe – have approached the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court seeking mosquito nets while alleging that Taloja jail is infested with mosquitoes.
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Court Allows Jailed Activists To Talk On Phone With Families

17/09/2022

NDTV / by pti

The accused are currently in judicial custody and lodged at Taloja Jail in Navi Mumbai.
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court here has permitted activist Anand Teltumbde and five others, arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist link case, to have a telephonic conversation with family members for three minutes…
Sudhir Dhavale has filed an application in the court, seeking action against the prison medical officer and the jail authorities for allegedly not providing medical attention to him.
Read more

Also read:
● Gautam Navlakha approaches court again seeking mosquito net (Scroll.in / Sep 2022)
● Hunger Strike unto death against the harassment from Taloja Central Jail’s apathetic administration (By Sagar Gorkhe / May 20, 2022)

Gautam Navlakha approaches court again seeking mosquito net in prison

13/09/2022 Asha

Seeking court’s permission to use a mosquito net !

15/09/2022

madhyamam / by Editorial Desk

Most people will remember that two years ago, an elderly man had to approach the court to seek access to a straw to drink water in prison because he suffered from tremors. Fr Stan Swamy was in jail for leading legal battles for the rights of tribal communities. His punishment included the denial of the basic right to drinking water comfortably… Prominent human rights activist and journalist Gautam Navlakha is a trial prisoner in the same Elgar Parishad case in which Stan Swamy was accused and arrested. Two days ago, Navlakha approached a special NIA court for permission to use mosquito nets in the jail.
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Gautam Navlakha approaches court again seeking mosquito net in prison

14/09/2022

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

He filed the application in court days after another accused person, Vernon Gonsalves, contracted dengue in jail.
In his plea, Navlakha told the court that the area in which the Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai is located is prone to dengue and malaria. “The applicant [Navlakha] is very troubled due to the influx of mosquitoes at the prison and is unable to sleep at night even after using mosquito repellents,” the plea added.
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Gautam Navlakha approaches court again seeking mosquito net

13/09/2022

The Indian Express / by Sadaf Modak

Navlakha’s application filed through lawyers Wahab Khan and Chandni Chawla said that despite these directions passed by the court, Gonsalves contracted dengue and has been unwell since August 31. Gonsalves is currently admitted at state-run J J Hospital.
Days after his co-accused in the Elgaar Parishad case, Vernon Gonsalves, contracted dengue in Taloja Central Jail, activist Gautam Navlakha again approached court seeking a mosquito net. Over the past few months, undertrials at the prison and jail authorities have faced-off over lack of mosquito nets in the prison. In May, jail authorities seized mosquito nets of undertrials stating that the strings and nails used to tie the nets can be a security risk…
Meanwhile, the special court will hear Gonsalves’ application for temporary bail on medical grounds on Friday. The court on Tuesday received a report from JJ Hospital where he is admitted.
Read more

Also read:
● NIA court rejects plea to use mosquito nets in prison (The Leaflet / July 2022)
● Hunger Strike unto death against the harassment from Taloja Central Jail’s apathetic administration (By Sagar Gorkhe / May 20, 2022)

‘No cop was free to take Vernon Gonsalves to JJ hospital due to fest’ / Jailers’ apathy?

12/09/2022 Asha

‘No cop was free to take Vernon Gonsalves to JJ hospital due to fest’

13/09/2022

Times of India / by TNN

Taloja jail authorities have said Elgar Parishad case accused Vernon Gonsalves who tested positive for dengue on September 7 after several days of fever could not be admitted that day since there was no police escort due to Ganeshotsav and he was admitted to state-run JJ hospital on September 8 with an escort.
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Jailers’ apathy? Political prisoners’ right to life in India is ‘almost non-existent’

13/09/2022

Countercurrents / by By Deepika Tandon, Shahana Bhattarcharya (PUDR)

On 8th September Vernon Gonsalves, one of the 16 undertrials in the Bhima Koregaon case lodged in the anda cell of Taloja Central Jail, was diagnosed with dengue and likely pneumonia.
Gonsalves age 65, had been suffering from fever since 30th August, but it took an appeal from his lawyer and the intervention of the Court for the Taloja Jail authorities to shift him to JJ Hospital for treatment. The fact that he was immediately put on oxygen support at the hospital, points to the apathy of the jail authorities regarding the health of prisoners lodged in their custody.
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Medical treatment was provided to activist Vernon Gonsalves in jail, NIA court told

12/09/022

MidDay / by pti

The activist (65), who was in judicial custody and lodged at the Taloja jail in neighbouring Navi Mumbai, was on September 8 admitted to the state-run JJ Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment for dengue.
Activist Vernon Gonsalves, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, was under constant medical treatment in jail once his ill health came to light and before he was diagnosed with dengue and admitted to a government hospital, prison authorities told a special NIA court here on Monday…
The activist’s plea for temporary bail on medical grounds is likely to be heard by the court on Tuesday.
Read more

Also read:
● Relatives of BK16 Flag Prison Authorities’ ‘Criminal Negligence’ and Deteriorating Health of Undertrials (Newsclick / Sep 2022)

MRSD: Release Activist Vernon Gonsalves on immediate Medical bail

11/09/2022 Asha

By Mumbai Rises to Save Democracy

PRESS STATEMENT
Statement by Mumbai Rises to Save Democracy – a campaign of 40+ civil society groups

MRSD is distressed to learn about the health situation of 65 year old activist, poet, and writer Vernon Gonsalves, incarcerated since 2018 in the Bhima Koregaon/Elgar Parishad case. Gonsalves started developing several symptoms, such as fever, cough, dizziness, and nausea starting on August 30, as per the affidavit filed by his lawyers in Court. However, his health condition was met with neglect and it was only after pleading several times that he was finally taken to the state-run JJ hospital on September 6. Instead of continuing his treatment there, he was taken back to jail the same day. Upon hearing about this from other co-accused, Gonsalves’ lawyers and family members moved the NIA court seeking temporary bail on medical conditions. During the hearing, the lawyers told the Court that apart from Dengue, he may also be suffering from Pneumonia. …

BK16 Relatives Flag Prison Authorities’ ‘Criminal Negligence’ of Undertrials / Custodial Violence, Judicial Negligence & State Apathy

11/09/2022 Asha

NewsClick / by Relatives and Representatives of the BK16; NewsClick

The relatives and representatives of the accused persons in the Bhima Koregaon case have released a statement drawing attention to the deteriorating health of several undertrials – including Vernon Gonsalves – and the brazen negligence of the prison authorities...

Statement:
In yet another act of criminal negligence, the prison authorities of Taloja Central Jail, Maharashtra, have delayed medical treatment for Vernon Gonsalves, a prominent activist and one of the accused in the Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad case.
Gonsalves, who is 65 years old, fell ill with fever on August 30th, and even though his condition was steadily deteriorating, he was treated with just paracetamol and antibiotics in jail, for almost a week. After much pleading, he was taken to JJ hospital on September 7 and was given oxygen support. However, instead of continuing his treatment, he was callously brought back to jail where his condition continued to worsen. It is only after his lawyer and wife, Susan Abraham, approached the court and obtained an order, that the prison authorities finally admitted him to the emergency ward of JJ hospital, where he is still under treatment.
Read full statement

Video: Custodial Violence, Judicial Negligence and State Apathy

12/09/2022

en │ 52min │2022

By The Polis Project

On 5 October 2020, Atikur Rahman, journalist Siddique Kappan, student Masood Ahmad, and taxi driver Mohammad Alam were arrested in Mathura, in Uttar Pradesh in, India They were on their way to meet the family of a Dalit woman who was raped and murdered by a group of men from the dominant caste in Hathras…
The denial of medical treatment and bail must be seen as a part of a larger pattern of abuse of power directed toward dissenters and political prisoners in India. On 5 July 2021, 84-year-old Jesuit priest and human rights defender Father Stan Swamy died in judicial custody at the Holy Family Hospital in Mumbai, India.
Watch video

► Also read/listen: Bhima Koregaon, COVID-19 And Custodial Apathy In Jails / Audio + Press Release (May 2021)

PUDR: Stop Denying Political Prisoners the Right to Healthcare in Jails / Statement by USCIRF

10/09/2022 Asha

Stop Denying Political Prisoners the Right to Healthcare in Jails

10/09/2022

By Peoples Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR)

Sep 10, 2022
On 8th September Vernon Gonsalves, one of the 16 undertrials in the Bhima Koregaon case lodged in the anda cell of Taloja Central Jail, was diagnosed with dengue and likely pneumonia. Gonsalves age 65, had been suffering from fever since 30th August, but it took an appeal from his lawyer and the intervention of the Court for the Taloja Jail authorities to shift him to JJ Hospital for treatment. The fact that he was immediately put on oxygen support at the hospital, points to the apathy of the Jail authorities regarding the health of prisoners lodged in their custody.
The incident marked the two month anniversary of the Special Court rejecting Gautam Navlakha’s petition for a mosquito net. On 20th May the jail authorities had confiscated the mosquito nets of some inmates housed in the anda cell. Sagar Gorkhe and several others had gone on hunger strike expressing apprehensions about contracting malaria and dengue as Taloja is infested by mosquitos. The abysmal jail facilities and hostility of jail staff added to these fears which have all come true.
Read full statement

by The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (Sep 9):
+++ USCIRF Vice Chair Abraham Cooper: “We are relieved 65-year-old Dalit rights activist Vernon Gonsalves was finally able to receive medical care after being wrongfully denied it for over a week despite the severe deterioration of his health.” ++
+++ USCIRF Commissioner @StephenSchneck: “Medical neglect of prisoners of conscience like Gonsalves & others arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case continues despite the inhumane death of Father Stan Swamy. Pre-trial detention cannot be a de facto death sentence.” ++