Nagpur Central Jail Authorities Accept Prof.GN Saibaba's Demands After Family Indicated He May Go On Hunger Strike Due To Denial Of Books, Medicines Etc

In a press release, Prof G Haragopalan, Chairman of the Committee for the Defence and Release of Prof GN Saibaba stated that today at 3 pm, family members of GN Saibaba got a phone call from Nagpur Central Jail.

As per the press release, Saibaba spoke to his wife and informed that the DIG (Prisons) visited him in Central Jail on October 20.

"The DIG negotiated with Dr. GN Saibaba and accepted all his demands. The DIG (Prisons) instructed the Nagpur Central Prison officers to resolve all the following demands immediately-

• Handover all the confiscated and withheld letters written to him by his wife, family members and advocates to Dr. GN Saibaba immediately.

• Jail authorities shall not stop the medicines given by his family members and advocates and the medicines will be given to Saibaba immediately.

• Complaint letter documenting his harassment and lack of basic rights in the prison since the last few months addressed to the ADG (Prisons) Pune shall be delivered immediately. Previously the jail authorities were not sending this letter and illegally holding on it.

• All the paper clippings sent to him by his family members through post shall be given to him immediately and such papers cuttings shall not be confiscated in future.

• Provide him the books sent by the family members."

As the DIG (Prisons) accepted all the demands, Dr. GN Saibaba did not go for a hunger strike from October 21, 2020. But according to the phone call received today, none of these demands have been met yet. We are hopeful that the Nagpur prisoner authorities show a quick response and restore Dr. Saibaba's basic rights, the press release states.

Moreover, the Jail authorities have also informed Saibaba yesterday that the second parole application filed by his brother Ramadevudu has been rejected.

As per a news report on October 16, Advocate Akash Sarode who delivers medicines to GN Saibaba said that the jail authorities have been consistently refusing to take whatever medicines, books and other essentials that he got for the wheelchair bound 90% disabled former professor who is serving life imprisonment.

On March 7, 2017 a Gadchiroli Court awarded life imprisonment to Saibaba and others convicting them under Sections 13, 18, 20, 38 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and Section 120 B of the Indian Penal Code.