Mumbai: Seven human rights defenders facing prolonged incarceration in the infamous Elgar Parishad case went on a hunger strike on Friday (October 18).
The activists have not been produced before the court for the last three hearings in the case. Today, despite a court order, the Navi Mumbai police failed to provide an escort team to take the incarcerated individuals from the Taloja central prison to the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court located in south Mumbai, prompting the activists to announce their hunger strike.
All in all, 16 people were arrested in the case. After a few bails and one death, seven men and one woman are still in jail. Those striking include rights lawyer Surendra Gadling, Delhi University professor Hany Babu, prisoners’ rights activist Rona Wilson, cultural activists Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor, editor and writer of Vidrohi magazine Sudhir Dhawale and tribal rights activist Mahesh Raut.
Activist Jyoti Jagtap, also arrested in the case and lodged at the Byculla women’s prison, was produced before the court.
All 16 persons have been accused of being “urban Naxals” and booked under several stringent charges of the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Festivals, elections and VIP visits usually mean there is a lack of security personnel to ferry those imprisoned from the jail to court or to hospital.
This story was originally published in thewire.in. Read the full story here.
